SKU: A0.1312368

I Wonder as I Wander by John Jacob Niles is here arranged by Joel Jacklich (ASCAP) for voice and string quartet.

� Wonder as I Wander nis a Christian folk hymn, typically performed as a Christmas carol, written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. The hymn has its origins in a song fragment collected by Niles on July 16, 1933.[1][2][3][4][5]

While in the town of Murphy in Appalachian North Carolina, Niles attended a fundraising meeting held by evangelicals who had been ordered out of town by the police.[1][5] In his unpublished autobiography, he wrote of hearing the song:

A girl had stepped out to the edge of the little platform attached to the automobile. She began to sing. Her clothes were unbelievable dirty and ragged, and she, too, was unwashed. Her ash-blond hair hung down in long skeins. ... But, best of all, she was beautiful, and in her untutored way, she could sing. She smiled as she sang, smiled rather sadly, and sang only a single line of a song.[2]

The girl, named Annie Morgan, repeated the fragment seven times in exchange for a quarter per performance, and Niles left with three lines of verse, a garbled fragment of melodic material—and a magnificent idea.[2][5] (In various accounts of this story, Niles hears between one and three lines of the song.[2][4][5][6]) Based on this fragment, Niles composed the version of I Wonder as I Wander that is known today, extending the melody to four lines and the lyrics to three stanzas.[2][3][5] His composition was completed on October 4, 1933.[2] Niles first performed the song on December 19, 1933, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.[2][6] It was originally published in Songs of the Hill Folk in 1934.[4][6]

References
1. Bradley, Ian. The Penguin Book of Carols. Penguin (1999), p148. ISBN 0-14-027526-6.
2. Pen, Ron. I Wonder as I Wander. A Kentucky Christmas (George Ella Lyon, editor). University Press of Kentucky (2003), p200–201. ISBN 0-8131-2279-1.
3. Studwell, William E. The Christmas Carol Reader. Haworth Press (1995), p111. ISBN 1-56024-974-9.
4. Emmons, Shirlee & Wilbur Watkin Lewis. Researching the Song: A Lexicon. Oxford University Press (2006), p242. ISBN 0-19-515202-6.
5. Niles, John Jacob. I Wonder as I Wander. Archived 2006-03-25 at the Wayback Machine John-Jacob-Niles.com.
6. Stulken, Marilyn K. With One Voice: Reference Companion. Augsburg Fortress (2000), p25. ISBN 0-8066-3843-5.

Program Notes from Wikipedia.

SKU: A0.1200196

A Poor Wayfaring Stranger is a traditional American folk song with roots that can be traced back to the early 19th century. The song tells the story of a weary traveler who is journeying through a difficult world in search of a brighter future in the afterlife. The song's haunting melody and poignant lyrics have made it a favorite of singers and audiences alike, and it has been covered by countless artists over the years.

The song's origins are somewhat murky, but it is believed to have originated in the southern United States, possibly in the Appalachian Mountains. The earliest known version of the song dates back to the 1820s, when it was collected by musicologist and folklorist John Jacob Niles. Niles recorded the song as part of his efforts to preserve traditional American folk music, and he later performed it as part of his own repertoire.

Over the years, A Poor Wayfaring Stranger has become a staple of the American folk music canon, and it has been covered by a wide range of artists, including Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and many others. The song's haunting melody and spiritual themes have made it a powerful symbol of hope and perseverance, and it continues to inspire and move people around the world.

SKU: H1.2697DP

By John Jacob Niles.

Medley of Christmas tunes by John Jacob Niles
The ethereal sound of singing bells opens this 3-5 octave arrangement which combines two haunting Christmas melodies, the Appalachian folk tune I Wonder as I Wander and Coventry Carol. These two carols are artistically woven together to create a beautiful, contemplative composition, making this a poignant addition to any Christmas service or program.

SKU: A0.1353672

I Wonder As I Wander began as a song fragment collected by John Jacob Niles in Appalachian North Carolina in 1933. Niles extended and harmonised it. It is often sung as a carol at Xmas.
I have arranged it here for a solo voice (soprano or tenor) and string quartet.

Score and parts.

SKU: A0.929188

This is a very pretty song that was written from a fragment of a tune collected in 1933 by John Jacob Niles.  Niles heard a girl named Annie Morgan sing a haunting melody.  He paid her a quarter per performance 7 times to sing it for him.  He then extended the melody and added verses.  
A beautiful addition to any holiday program.
The first violin part goes very high but is also written down an octave for younger players.