Sheet Music: Flow Gently, Sweet Afton

TitleFlow Gently, Sweet Afton
Alternate titlesAway in a Manger
ComposerJonathan Edwards Spilman (1812–1896)
InstrumentationFlute and Guitar chords
KeyB-flat major
RangeF4–G5
Time signature3/4
Tempo92 BPM
Performance time1:05
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (104 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (907 kB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (952 kB)
Date added2011-07-05
Last updated2011-07-05
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.4 (below average)
Categories
Ballads, Hymn tunes

Performances

See here for instructions on how to submit your own recording!

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Tune of the Day: Flow Gently, Sweet Afton

Music by Jonathan E. Spilman

This song is based on the lyrical poem Sweet Afton by Robert Burns, describing the Afton Water in Ayrshire, Scotland. It was set to music by Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer Jonathan E. Spilman in 1837. An adaptation of the same melody has since become one of the tunes to the Christmas carol “Away in a Manger”. This melody is sometimes erroneously attributed to Alexander Hume, who did compose a different, less known tune to Burns's poem.