Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)

This performance was apart of Longy’s Virtual Benefit Concert, Longy School of Music of Bard College
Credit:
Longy Conservatory Staff
Videographer Luke Zavara
Assistant videographer Jamin Burdick
Pianist, Gavin Rushing
An African American spiritual that probably predates the Civil War, "Were You There" was first published in William Barton's Old Plantation Hymns (1899).
“Negro Spirituals were much more than soulful songs sung in response to the evils of bondages, they were the audio portion of sophisticated systems of the Underground Railroad. Steal away to Jesus” literally means to follow the teachings of Christ, but it doesn’t take too much imagination to understand it as a call to meeting. Listeners would sneak off to the woods to learn to read, plan an escape, or organize an uprising. Nat Turner used this song to call out his followers in 1831 in Southampton, Virginia, when he led a short-lived revolt resulting in the deaths of 55 white people and the eventual execution of up to 200 slaves. Similarly, “Were You There” was a coded question that slaves would ask one another about the lynching of Nat Turner. Much more than a mental recollection of an event, when we sing Spirituals such as this one we remember to bring these historic events to make them apart of our story. To bring the past suffering and death of Christ into the present allows us to see the complete depiction of the passion of the Christ. When we claim the Christ who suffered on our behalf and stood in solidarity with our oppression, this we do too for our brothers and sisters in community.”
voices.pitt.edu...
pdfs.semantics...
en.wikipedia.o...

[@dannyrivera8954]

Thank you all for the incredible support. Please feel free to watch my latest video in the same spirit that highlights the Civil Rights Movement and Dr.Martin Luther King Jr: "Escape LIVE" kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHiroa2kaZ14n5o

[@buddyplatt6496]

Great rendition. Thanks Guy.

[@MaiTaiCassanova]

Amen... thank you and God bless ❤

[@devilsden2283]

I am sitting on Good Friday thinking of my Lord and His selfless sacrifice for the world, the turbulent times we are currently in, my longing for Paradise and the incredible performance of this beautiful Spiritual by these gifted gentlemen...my heart cries for thee oh Lord....it is finished

[@bonnies.8699]

That was so beautiful! I needed your music tonight! God bless you both.....Bonnie in Indianapolis ❤

[@edenjohnson3342]

THANK YOU BOTH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[@ThePolishPiper]

This has got to be the best acapella of this song I’ve ever heard. Beautiful !

[@jestonienguho3531]

I'm here after Sarah G's performance during Easter 👑

[@quintrelljackson9430]

Thank you brothers for this song

[@lynnevensen864]

Beautiful! Thank you.

[@chuyhighman6927]

Amen Brotha, Amen 😣🙏✨✝✨... Touches Me DEEP in my Soul.

[@w.a.k.3692]

Beautiful, love this rendition and the intense piano introduction, really sets the tone in a different way. 👏

[@mcwilliam8118]

So beautiful and so real.. bravo!!!! Glory to God most high

[@stephenbruno4096]

Tremendous...thank you!

[@finbarmaguire5668]

Tank u,so much, that was So moving, keep singing and posting we need this Godly voice,love from Ireland,xx

[@buddyplatt6496]

Hi Ireland, great post.

[@finbarmaguire5668]

@@buddyplatt6496 THANKS bUDDY PLATT

[@philippd.3762]

What a powerful song, Power, worship and harmony, unbelievable!!

[@joanaisabelcolltruyol3090]

It' s Good Friday.....I can't helping of those who are stil killed by the state....it is not such a long time ago....but in XXI Century.....Many of them are innocent....and governors do not care about it......My greatest tribute is fot those whom I will never forget....their moms and relatives....

[@tchenail]

nicest present i could have Tx from Canada

[@djcrash1104]

Wow so powerful!! Beautiful job!!!

[@ecouture33]

So beutiful! Love this and thank you Jesus!!

[@Getachew440]

Excellent my brother. As, as agnostic, enjoyed this.

[@arachnophilegrrl]

Powerful! Thank you.

[@misshoney0818]

Omg!!! Danny and Gavin!!!🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@mamalou4698]

Breathtaking. Thank you

[@krystalhatchett7184]

BEAUTIFUL

[@conyahs]

Beautiful

[@skipdoyle6774]

Powerful.

[@beverlyramsay584]

AWESOME

[@annaperrycoleman3932]

Awesome

[@abigailduor1811]

I wasn't there, but I believe and I'm grateful to him for dying for me

[@GoldenLarkVoice]

Amen.

[@gracechurchtopton6594]

Can I use this in our virtual Church Service at Grace Church?

[@randyriverstonegraves3538]

Is there any way I could get the score for this?

[@michaeldennewitz9279]

You could have done better without all that noise. What's the matter with his piano? Is it broken or something?? 😗😙😚

[@headdragondavidaustinsimmo4025]

Im adam cane Noah son Joseph Achilles Ishmael Moses Isaiah gidian yeshua Bethlehem im david neska Oregon by ophar

[@ronpeavy9229]

The most beautiful song I have ever heard. The Holy Spirit is so strong .

[@watchman731]

This is Powerful! Singing with passion and Heartfelt ...the Singing and the message blending so well. Have been blessed and one of the best renditions I've heard so far and this is 2024. God bless you bro

[@911theanonymous]

Brought me to tears. What kind of God do we have? God is love. Thank you for your beautiful rendition of this song. I felt your heart. ❤️

[@lynnevensen864]

HE IS A GOD OF LOVE♥️ HE IS A GOD who loved you so much that He would die for you! FOR God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son so that for all who believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. GOD did not send his son to condemn the world but in order that it may be saved through him

[@911theanonymous]

@@lynnevensen864 ❤️

[@Dobrovolno_]

Thank you. I was searching for this song, I’ve seen it in different versions. And finally found this one that really touches my heart.💔

[@Atr-bv1wq]

and then he rose again, a conqueror! Praise Jesus

[@patriciahall7960]

Powerful rendition! A soloist who “feels” the song makes the difference! Thank you Jesus for your death on the cross for my sins 🙏🏽

[@MaryReagan-cg1uk]

Powerful reminder of Jesus’ loving sacrifice for us. Praise Him!

[@tsionhabtesllassie2974]

Thank you. You really touched my heart because you sang it with passion. God bless you.

[@davidjohnhailey2920]

May I use this piece for a Maundy Thursday service for our church? Absolutely hauntingly beautiful and powerful. Beautiful voice and playing!

[@kalaroopnarine7395]

No, I wasn't there, but I BELIEVE ✝️. Amen.

[@mcoz6934]

✝️ ROMANS 6:3-8 ✝️ 3 _Do you not know_ that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried _with him_ through baptism into (His) death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the [glorious power] of the Father, so also we may live a new way of life. 5 For if we have become identified _with him_ in the likeness of his death, certainly also we will be identified _with him_ in the likeness of his resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old (sinful) man was crucified together _with him_ , in order that the body of sin may be done away with, that we may no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For the one who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now _if we died with Christ_ , we believe (by faith) that we will also live _with him_ , • ~~~ • ✝️ Those who believe, they _were_ there, with Christ as their substitutional sacrifice 🔥 Those who _were not_ there, not represented by Jesus Christ, don't believe.

[@beverlyramsay584]

Me Too I believe with all my ❤️

[@cecilhayden7025]

"Absolutely Gorgeous!" Where can you find that piano arrangement? Can I use it too? :)

[@geeman5880]

That was an awesome rendition, what an incredible voice. The dramatic pause, singing from the heart. The Pianist was just great, the intro was an attention grabber.

[@estherhadassah9848]

Wow!!! Lord thank You for suffering the most humiliating death for us.🙏✝️💜

[@keitha.neubert3063]

Loved that dark rumbling piano introduction. Nice music, gents. Awesome sound quality.

[@leatguy1874]

God bless you young man you sang that song for the lord HALLELUJAH and Amen

[@lovejoylynn2]

Danny Rivera, do you still weep for Jesus? You found my tears this Good Friday 2023. Praying you will again use your great gift to honor the One Who gave it & be forever blessed. 🙏

[@w.a.k.3692]

I’m always in awe of the amount of raw passion and faith that black people have. Really shakes me to the core when I see their powerful faith and morality that is so lacking in the world today. After all the injustice they face in North America and all over the world they go through…

[@genewood9062]

Very moving. But I was expecting to see you burst forth with the third verse, "He rose up from the grave!"

[@dexterpaglinawan4109]

Sarah Geronimo the popstar royalty in the Philippines brought me here ❤️ pls watch her cover 😍

[@louisebraiden2358]

Beautiful. So powerful.

[@MarthaJin]

Powerful!

[@audrie6800]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@sandra-fh8hc]

Blessings. 🙏🏾Thank you Danny. I was there. I did this.😪

[@dorothybarry7598]

My God, My God, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus for dying for us. God bless you, beautifully done!!! Resurrection/2022.

[@franktruex3239]

Thank you Danny. Your music truly focused me today.

[@chattart9026]

Beautiful and emotional. ❤️👏🏻

[@jw-db2jk]

Incredible and heart wrenching preformance bravo!

[@amykrueger9440]

Beautiful. Bravo.

[@cynthiabroxton1076]

This brought me to tears also 😢. May I have permission to use this in our Virtual Good Friday service? Blessings

[@conallmulligan5178]

an absolutely beautiful bare rendition of this song.

[@jennifermilne4796]

Awesome and beautifully sung - amazing gift!

[@richardperkins5046]

Beautiful singing, but I hate that piano intro.

[@sthughandstjohnchellssteve7012]

Hi Is there a recording of this that I can buy or may I have permission to use it for our Good Friday sermon?

[@AashaMarieArtist]

😭😭😭😭

[@jillmccrory21]

This is an incredible performance/blessing. May I use this for our Good Friday zoom at Holy Redeemer MCC in College Park, MD? God bless you for this!

[@dannyrivera8954]

Absolutely, let me know how it goes.

[@skipdoyle6774]

Powerful. Sung with genuine faith.

[@carlosfigueroa723]

Oh man, where can I get the music sheet?

[@rivanjesayah.pasaribu4882]

Thank you Danny! Praise Him. 🙏

[@djcrash1104]

Powerful

[@matthewratliff4048]

this is one of the most moving recordings of this piece i have eve heard... what is he holding?

[@dannyrivera8954]

Thank you Matthew, I am holding a noose as a way to remember and create space for those who have been lynched and even killed in this day. We call on their names.

[@dkrams121]

Sometimes I tremble from the power of Faith and conviction of some people. Not because you are greater than I. But, because of my own inequities. You sir are a beautiful blessing from God. Thank you for Loving our God and sharing your gift with us. May the Lord continue His blessings upon you!

[@fallmax]

May you be blessed everyday … such beauty in your voice… Thank You … I can’t stop crying I feel your emotions … to a beautiful God …I am a trusted Sabbath keeper of Gods commandments It is gracious to hear someone sing of His giving gift of himself to a dying world …

[@AceGrante]

Came here after watching Sarah Geronimo's cover of this song❤️🌻

[@margaretwarrington9998]

Wonderful..2 greatly gifted men...the piano player is probably a genius...

[@headdragondavidaustinsimmo4025]

People were coveting wealth health fame plack from teeth heart all impurities go this just Faith in God God is air we breathe holy is he

[@lizypooh86]

Very heart felt! Beautiful rendition.

[@Inlitener]

Absolutely amazing! Wow! 🎉

[@abigailduor1811]

Thanks for ministering

[@shantellylacew]

Yes!! So powerful 🙌🏾

[@Queensofafrica8]

Absolutely beautiful

[@judithdemeester6630]

Wat een Vader hebben wij

[@rachelreeder2658]

This is beautiful. I cry with him. May I use this video during our Good Friday service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hemet? It is recorded but only sent out to members who are homebound.

[@dannyrivera8954]

Sure!

[@rachelreeder2658]

@@dannyrivera8954 Thank you!!

[@mieshadejesus6681]

Sing Sir 🙌🏾🙏🏾❤️

[@rubiasusanmartijn9875]

Powerful

[@howlingwaters2741]

Yes.

[@Atababyhookmastet]

Terrible😄