Instant Sheet Music

Typically, "What  Friend We Have in jesus' is arranged with an overly simplistic, sentimental sound or in a swinging gospel style; however, I've chosen neither extreme. Joseph Scriven, who wrote these lyrics, was actually a native of Ireland. Although he immigrated to Canada, Scriven still had ties to his native homeland. In fact, the words of this hymn were written in a letter to Scriven's mother who lay sick back home in Ireland. Therefore, this Celtic setting of the hymn tune is quite appropriate and helps to give new meaning and emotion to Scriven's deeply personal words.