Down by the Riverside: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Traditional Spiritual / arr. Robert T. Gibson
Item: 00-PO-0007174
$2.30
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Related Items
Down by the Riverside: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download |
$29.99
|
View | |
Down by the Riverside: SATB Choral Octavo |
$2.20
|
View | |
Down by the Riverside: SAB Choral Octavo |
$2.20
|
View | |
Down by the Riverside: SATB Choral Octavo |
$2.20
|
View | |
Down by the Riverside: SAB Choral Octavo |
$2.20
|
View | |
Down by the Riverside: 2-Part Choral Octavo |
$2.30
|
View | |
Down by the Riverside: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD |
$29.99
|
View |
Description
This gospel-style arrangement is 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.
Down by the Riverside: 2-Part Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007174
More about this title
About the Arranger: Robert T. Gibson
Robert T. Gibson, a Houston native, brings deep experience as a conductor, clinician, and educator across middle school, high school, collegiate, and church settings. He holds degrees from the University of North Texas (Bachelor of Music Education) and Missouri State University (Master of Music), where he later served as an adjunct professor and directed the Gospel Choir while founding the Multicultural Ensemble. Gibson has guest-clinicked throughout Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Tennessee, and New York, and his arrangements have been performed by ensembles including the Texas All-State Tenor Bass Choir and Missouri Summer All-State Choir.
Beyond the podium, Gibson is deeply committed to developing the next generation of music educators and fostering community connections through music. His work has been recognized with the 2020 Missouri Choral Directors Association Opus Award for his arrangement of "We Shall Overcome," and in 2022 he received the NAACP Trailblazer Award and was honored with Robert T. Gibson Day by the mayor of Springfield. His compositions and arrangements appear through Walton Music and Alfred Publications.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the essential vocabulary of gospel choral writing without oversimplifying the style. Gibson's use of rhythmic interjections, close-voiced triads, and ascending inversions creates the authentic drive and energy that makes this spiritual come alive, while the shift into bluesy minor and the dramatic ritard at the finish give your singers real moments to sink their teeth into musically.
What to expect
Spirited and grounded in gospel tradition, this setting moves with rhythmic vitality and close-harmony warmth. The sudden blue-minor turn brings a moment of introspection before the final ritard opens into something grand and powerful, inviting singers to pour everything into the finish.
Who it's for
Directors working with developing choirs who want to teach authentic gospel style without waiting for advanced harmonic sophistication. The 2-part writing keeps the vocal demands manageable while the arrangement's stylistic detail rewards singers who engage with the genre's conventions.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the rhythmic interjections as call-and-response moments; they're the heartbeat of the gospel style, so commit to the off-beat phrasing rather than smoothing it out.
- Balance the close triads carefully so that the harmonic richness doesn't blur; each voice needs clarity even when stacked tightly together.
- Use the SoundTrax recording as a reference for groove and energy, but encourage your ensemble to find their own vocal energy and response without relying on it during rehearsals.
- Shape the ritard at the end deliberately and together; this is where the power lives, so communicate your tempo intention clearly and let the singers feel the weight of those final measures.
How to use it
Program this as a concert closer or encore that energizes the room without overshadowing more delicate material earlier in the set. It works equally well as a festival or competition piece where judges appreciate both stylistic authenticity and accessibility.
Skills your students will build
- Gospel-style rhythmic phrasing and call-and-response singing
- Close-voiced harmony and blend in triadic writing
- Stylistic awareness of harmonic inversions and their effect on forward motion
- Expressive control over tempo and dynamics, particularly in the ritardando section
- Ensemble cohesion when singing with rhythmic precision and interlocking parts