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
Rain Dogs cover

Rain Dogs

Tom Waits
Tender Symmetry cover

Tender Symmetry

Michael Price
Deviations cover

Deviations

Dominic Frasca
Steve Reich: Duet cover

Steve Reich: Duet

MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kristjan Järvi
Bone Bells cover

Bone Bells

Mary Halvorson, Sylvie Courvoisier
Three cover

Three

Chas Smith
Bleed cover

Bleed

The Necks
Retiro E Ritmo cover

Retiro E Ritmo

Markus Reuter, Mata Atlântica