And Can It Be

This is an arrangement and variations for strings on the tune by Thomas Campbell from my favorite hymn, ‘And Can It Be?’. Charles Wesley wrote the text of this hymn soon after he came to faith in Christ in 1738. The words are as follows:

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain—

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Refrain:

Amazing love! How can it be,


That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above—

So free, so infinite His grace—

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray—

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;


Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;


Alive in Him, my living Head,


And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,


And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! How can it be?


That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

While the arrangement is strictly instrumental, I wanted the text to drive the form and texture of the piece. Therefore, I wanted there to be a contemplative quality to the music, that over time breaks forth into pure and ecstatic joy at the thought of being free and alive in Christ.