Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet cover

Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

Released

One of the oddest, most beautiful, and most deeply moving compositions of Gavin Bryars’ oeuvre is this piece, which is built on a field recording of a homeless man singing a few lines of the gospel song “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet.” The vocal recording is looped, and on each repetition a string ensemble plays a slightly different accompaniment. The back story to this composition is worth seeking out, but even if you know nothing about its genesis, the music is utterly entrancing.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Only Sky cover

Only Sky

David Torn
Michael Gordon: Timber Remixed cover

Michael Gordon: Timber Remixed

Michael Gordon, Mantra Percussion
Lucus cover

Lucus

Time Is A Blind Guide, Thomas Strønen
Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach cover

Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach

Michael Riesman, The Philip Glass Ensemble
Constellations cover

Constellations

Jane Antonia Cornish
Lookout for Hope cover

Lookout for Hope

The Bill Frisell Band
Tatatu cover

Tatatu

Margherita Fava