Short Description: The sheet music is a note-for-note transcription of
the traditional "Down By The Riverside" (Golden Gate Quartet) for choir/ensemble incl. score and parts
Licensed Territory: worldwide
Instrumentation: Choir or Vocal Quartet / Ensemble
Instruments: Choir / Vocal Quartet, Piano, Double Bass (the Drums are not notated)
Interpreter: Golden Gate Quartet
Music and Words: trad.
Level: 3 (of 5)
Pages: 27 (13 score + 14 parts)
Order No. 101-200-8001d
Guarantee: yes
Video: Please click on the video icon above!
Songfacts:
The Golden Gate Quartet was founded in 1934 (in Norfolk, Virginia), but still exists today (with a different line-up, of course). First there were local concerts and it was broadcast on the local radio. In 1937 the musicians got a record deal with Bluebird Records. John Hammond invited them to Carnegie Hall in New York. From then on they became known nationally. In 1940 they got a record deal with Columbia. They were the first black group to sing at Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration ceremony and then performed several times in the White House. They enjoyed their greatest popularity during World War II. After that, things became quieter around them in the USA. For this they traveled several times to Europe, where they became more popular than in the USA. They lived in Europe for a long time (especially in Paris). Elvis Presley got to know and appreciate the group during his army service in Europe. He recorded a few pieces with them. The version of "Down By The Riverside", which is the basis for the music edition of jazzinotes, was also created in Europe. It was first published on the album "The Golden Gate Quartet in Paris (1955-1960)". But it was also included in the album "The Very Best Of ...".
Some notes on the lyrics:
The origins of the traditional Gospel song Down By The Riverside go back to the 80s of the 19th century. Originally it was sung as a work song. As with many Gospel songs its author and history are chiefly unknown. Its hook „Gonna lay down my burden, Down by the riverside” refers to the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan and to another passage from the Bible, where a soldier lays down his arms by the river and is being baptized - a downright pacifist theme:
1. Gonna lay down my burden,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Gonna lay down my burden,
Down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.
Chorus:
I ain't go study war no more,
study war no more,
ain't go study war no more.
I ain't go study war no more,
study war no more,
ain't go study oh war no more.
2. Gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside...
Chorus
3. Gonna try on my long white robe
Down by the riverside...
Chorus
4. Gonna try on my starry crown
Down by the riverside...
Chorus
5. Gonna put on my golden shoes
Down by the riverside...
Chorus
6. Gonna talk with the Prince of Peace
Down by the riverside...
Chorus
7. Gonna shake hands around the world
Down by the riverside...
Chorus
Transposition:
We can transpose this tune for you. This is how it works:
1. Order it in the original version.
2. Order our article Transposition B.
3. Send an informal email to info@jazzinotes.com (subject:“Transposition”). In the email please indicate the title of the original as well as the key desired.
You’ll receive the transposition within a couple of days as a pdf file you can open using your password for the original version.