[Beams of heaven, as I go]

Composer: Charles Albert Tindley

Charles Albert Tindley was born in Berlin, Maryland, July 7, 1851; son of Charles and Hester Tindley. His father was a slave, and his mother was free. Hester died when he was very young; he was taken in my his mother’s sister Caroline Miller Robbins in order to keep his freedom. It seems that he was expected to work to help the family. In his Book of Sermons (1932), he speaks of being “hired out” as a young boy, “wherever father could place me.” He married Daisy Henry when he was seventeen. Together they had eight children, some of whom would later assist him with the publication of his hymns. Tindley was largely self-taught throughout his lifetime. He learned to read mostly on his own. After he and Daisy moved to Philadelphia… Go to person page >

Tindley's early twentieth-century gospel music is often considered to be the immediate forerunner of the rise of the African American gospel style associated with Thomas Dorsey (PHH 493).

SOME DAY consists of a few melodic motives, which are varied in triple meter. The refrain melody is a repeat of the latter half of the tune. The hymnal arrangement was prepared by Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4). Sing in parts.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook