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Ezekiel Saw the Wheel: the melody (soprano)

The melody of Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, sung by the soprano, in G, from D4 to E5. Hear it on its own or with the others, then sing it and watch each note light up.

Carries the tune, mostly on G and B, sings each verse's solo lines alone, from "Some go to church fo' to sing an' shout" to "He'll talk 'bout me an' he'll talk 'bout you", starting them on its top E, on "Some", "Befo'", "Let" and "He'll talk", and goes down to its low D on the first syllable of every "Ezekiel", on "An' de" before "little wheel" and on the first "a" in "'Tis a wheel in a wheel".

Range
D4 to E5
Key
G
Guide voice
The app's own voice

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How to learn the soprano part

  1. 01 · Your part

    Hear your part on its own until the tune of it is in your ear.

  2. 02 · With the others

    Hear it with the others, so you know where it sits in the chord.

  3. 03 · Sing it

    Sing it with the others under you and watch each note light up as you land it. The mic listens only while it plays, and nothing is recorded.

About Ezekiel Saw the Wheel

Words: traditional spiritual, as sung at Hampton Institute (printed 1909)

Tune: traditional spiritual, as sung at Hampton Institute (printed 1909)

Ezekiel Saw the Wheel is a spiritual as Hampton Institute sang it. Its 1927 songbook, edited by R. Nathaniel Dett, files it among the "Hymns on Biblical Themes", fairly lively, with a firm, marked rhythm. It marks the refrain "Tutti", for everyone, and the first line of each verse "Solo quasi extempore": for one voice, as if made up on the spot. Our tune and words are read from that book, a semitone lower, in G; the four parts are our own, checked against its chords. This is the refrain and two of its three verses for 2 to 4 singers: the soprano sings each verse's solo lines alone, and everyone answers "'Way in de middle ob de air".

All about Ezekiel Saw the Wheel More spirituals, part by part

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Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up.
  • A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
  • Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
  • Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
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