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 piano part is cued if needed. This is a perfect opportunity to get the entire band 'swinging', and could even entice a 'One mo' time!' finale.
