William Bradbury (1816-1868) was the composer of many well-known hymn tunes, including He Leadeth Me, Sweet Hour of Prayer, The Solid Rock, Just As I Am Without One Plea, and Jesus Loves Me.

His namesake tune, BRADBURY, is treated introspectively in this uncomplicated arrangement, seeking to underscore the meaning of having Jesus as a personal shepherd, and to have been, as the first stanza states, bought and owned by Him.

All three of the tenor trombones take a turn at playing the melody line, while the bass trombone provides support.

+ + +

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, Thine we are,
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, Thine we are.

Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray,
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray.

Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still,
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Dorothy A. Thrupp

+ + +

MP3 sound sample: entire piece (synthesizer/midi).



SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US from the hymn tune by William Bradbury arranged by Tom Kirkland for trombone quartet consisting of three tenors and one bass, comes in a pdf file of 195K, with a three-page score, four two-page parts and a license page, twelve pages in all. Performance time should be just over three minutes.