Down by the Riverside

Down by the Riverside is a spiritual that was sung by slaves in the South as a work song. It dates back to before the American Civil War. John Rutter's Lively arrangement of this barnstorming American folk-song builds up from a quiet opening to a triumphant conclusion. This arrangement is a faithful adaptation of the original orchestration for chorus and orchestra, but it is arranged so that it may be performed by band alone. The style is an authentic toe-tapping early jazz creation that relates to the 'jitterbug' era, and the band arrangement is complete with an optional jazz clarinet solo as well as a rousing chorus by the sax section. The piao part is cued if needed. This is a perfect opportunity to get the whole band 'swinging,' and could even entice a "One mo' time!" finale.