Songs of the Season 2023 – I Wonder as I Wander – Lindsey Stirling

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like in the 1980s, “I Wander as I Wander” was a song a lot of people performed, but nobody ever made really popular, and in the ensuing years, it’s fallen out of favor. It’s a strange song, and it’s one that’s really easy to make sound terrible. As I was poking around to find out more about the song, I learned that the composer, John Jacob Niles, was a hammered dulcimer player. Hearing the tune being played on the hammered dulcimer explains some of the strangeness of the chords, but it’s still strange, there’s no chorus, and it’s almost more of a Good Friday song than Christmas song. 

I always remember this song being featured in the Newbery Award-winning book “Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson; considering what I mentioned about the 1980s, I looked back to see when the book came out and it turns out it won the Newbery Medal in 1980. 

In any case, Lindsey Stirling’s version, which I like more with every listen. She’s modernized it, but at the same time really captures some of the strangeness of the piece, both in the instrumental and vocal sides. 

A couple more traditional renditions – first off, a vocal version by Jennifer Skaw

and a hammered dulcimer/guitar duo (Steve & Ruth Smith):

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