Down by the Riverside

This gospel-style kicker features the bass section on the familiar spiritual melody. It's an arrangement crafted with tried-and-true techniques of the genre like rhythmic choral interjections, close triads, and ascending chord inversions. An exuberant add-on section shifts momentarily to bluesy minor, and a huge ritard at the end invites singers to bring the power. Raise the roof by performing with the lively SoundTrax or invite an improvising bass and drummer to play along. Premiered at the 2022 Missouri MEA conference under the direction of arranger Robert T. Gibson.