Down by the Riverside (flex)

From Wind Repertory Project
H. T. Burleigh
Steve Danyew

Traditional, arr. Harry Thacker Burleigh; adapt. Steve Danyew


The work is part of the suite Three Spirituals, arranged by Burleigh and adapted by Danyew.


General Info

Year: 1922 / 2020
Duration: c. 2:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano and voice
Publisher: Steve Danyew
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $29.00


Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
C Treble Part

  • Piccolo
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Mallet percussion
  • Violin

C Bass Part

  • Bassoon
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • Bass
  • Cello

C Alto Clef Part

  • Viola

B-flat Treble Clef Part

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • B-flat Soprano Saxophone
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet

E-flat Treble Clef Part

  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone

F Treble Clef Part

  • Horn in F
  • English Horn


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Down by the Riverside (also known as Ain't Gonna Study War No More and Gonna lay down my burden) is a Negro spiritual. Its roots date back to before the American Civil War, though it was first published in 1918 in Plantation Melodies: A Collection of Modern, Popular and Old-time Negro-Songs of the Southland, Chicago, the Rodeheaver Company.

The song was first recorded by the Fisk University jubilee quartet in 1920 (published by Columbia in 1922), and there are at least 14 black gospel recordings before World War II.

Because of its pacifistic imagery, Down by the Riverside has also been used as an anti-war protest song, especially during the Vietnam War. The song is also included in collections of socialist and labor songs.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949) was a vocalist and composer who among many other things, created stirring arrangements of African-American spirituals. Three of the spirituals he arranged are included in this collection.

Burleigh’s spiritual arrangements are scored for voice and piano. I adapted these arrangements for eight-part flexible instrumentation. I tried to retain as much of Burleigh’s harmony as possible, as the harmonic choices he made throughout the arrangements are truly rich and captivating. I did alter some of his harmonies and rhythms and added a few new sections, but I tried to be as faithful to Burleigh’s arrangements as possible

- Program Note by adapter


Performance Notes

I recommend playing each line in the register notated in the conductor score. (You’ll notice that the parts for players have certain lines displaced by 1 or 2 octaves to fit within that part’s clef). In other words, bass-clef lines should be played by bass-clef instruments. I understand there may be cases where you need to play a line up or down an octave, and that’s fine. Obviously, if you have only cellos or only clarinets and trumpets, you will need to deviate from the recommendations provided. The instrumentation lists will be particularly useful if you have a group of instruments spanning a wide range (bass to treble).

Specific percussion parts are not included. However percussionists could play any of the parts on mallet instruments. Also, percussionists could contribute to the “groove” by improvising parts on instruments such as drum set, tambourine, and others.)

I included a sample written solo that can be played in place of an improvised solo. I find the F major pentatonic scale (F, G, A, C, D) works well in this setting.


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) Symphonic Band (Joseph Higgins, conductor) - 4 March 2021


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

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