And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:14
I Wonder as I Wander is tonally centered on F-sharp, and the first twelve bars introduce, or at least hint at, several of the unifying elements which run throughout the course of the piece, including a pan-chromatic chord which appears in each of the six meditations and a series of falling major triads (F-sharp, D, A, F). Then begins a fugue in an extremely slow 9/8 section which, while only twelve bars long, takes nearly two minutes to play. The movement then closes as it began.
The meditative focus is on the mystery and transcendence of the Incarnation, on Jesus Christ as God of God, Light of Light, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.