Shenandoah

This traditional American folk song was born on the lips of the voyageurs or fur traders travelling down the Missouri River and then spread across the world as a sea shanty. The exact origins of the tune are uncertain, but the song about the celebrated Native American chief Shenandoah and a canoe-going trader who wants to marry his daughter (lyrics vary) dates back to at least to the early 19th century.

In this version from G. Schirmer’s Secular Choral Music series, Shenandoah is arranged by Marshall Bartholomew for a full chorus of mixed Voices (SATB) to be sung a cappella with Piano accompaniment included for rehearsalpurposes only. While mainly popular with organisations local to the Missouri area, this majestic melody is guaranteed to evoke the Wild West in any performance setting.