?American Patrol? is the best-known work by Frank White (F.W.) Meacham (1856?1909), an arranger and composer associated with Tin Pan Alley, the home of New York City-based songwriters and music publishers who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. ?American Patrol? incorporates both original musical themes by Meacham and melodies from patriotic songs of the era such as ?Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean? and ?Dixie.? The ?patrol? format was popular in the latter 19th century, and was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It typically included an introduction played pianissimo or piano, in imitation of bugle calls or drums, then themes played progressively louder until a recapitulation of the first theme(s), gradually fading away and finishing softly, like the march began. Published for piano in 1885 and for wind band in 1891, ?American Patrol? became and remained popular through World War I and II, enjoying renewed popularity during WWII and beyond thanks to a swing arrangement for Glenn Miller's band by Jerry Gray. �Copyright 2013 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

"Down to the River to Pray" (also known as "Down in the River to Pray," "Down in the Valley to Pray," and "The Good Old Way") is a 19th-century American folk hymn variously attributed as an African-American spiritual/slave song, Appalachian song, and gospel song. In recent years, it was popularized in the 2000 motion picture, "O Brother, Where Art Thou," and by folk/bluegrass performer Alison Kraus.

In this arrangement, the first three presentations, or verses, of the pentatonic tune employ simple, traditional harmony and limited instrumentation, evoking the simplicity of folk-singing style. Verse 4 is characterized by a direct key change up a fourth (from concert Eb to Ab) and more active harmonies. After a short, two-bar modulation up one more step to Bb major, the final verse begins with rising parallel harmonies under the melody in trumpet 1, and continues with more contemporary harmonies. The piece concludes with a simple "Amen"-like ending.

�2019 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

Eighteenth-centuryBaptist minister, scholar, and hymn-writer Robert Robinson(1735-1790) wrote the hymn text, ?Come Thou Fount of EveryBlessing? in 1757 at the age of 22. Inthe USA, Robinson's hymn is typically set to the tune ?Nettleton,?whose authorship is unclear. Some attribute it to printer John Wyeth,who published it in his Repositoryof Sacred Music, Part Second(1813);others attribute it to Asahel Nettletion, a popular evangelist of theearly nineteenth century who published VillageHymns(1825).However, VillageHymnscontainedtexts only and no music, so there is no evidence that Nettletonactually wrote the tune that carries his name. Suitable for high school to professional ensembles for use in concert, recital, and worship, this intermediate-level arrangement presents the tune straightforwardly tobegin, then follows with a lyrical variation in 4/4 time, a variationin 5/8, and a concluding march. Fullscore and parts, 8.5x11-inch format. �Copyright 2010 ToddMarchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

?Were You There? is a nineteenth-century African-American spiritual that likely predates the American Civil War, and may have roots in a folk hymn known in Tennessee as ?Have You Heard How They Crucified MyLord?? It was first published in William Eleazar Barton's 1899 Old Plantation Hymns; and in 1940, it was included in the hymnal of the Episcopal Church with harmonization by C. Winfred Douglas, making it the first spiritual to be included in any major American hymnal. This arrangement evokes the call-and-response tradition of the spiritual, and features solo trumpet answered by low brass in the introduction and first stanza, solo trombone/low brass trio in the second stanza, and full ensemble in the final stanza. Although appropriate for use throughout the year, it is particularly fitting for performance on Good Friday, Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) and Easter sunrise services. This intermediate-level arrangement is suitable for ensembles from high school to community and professional musicians. �Copyright 2015 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com