Beautiful melody accompanied by arpeggios in the second and third clarinet parts. The melody shifts among all four parts at various times. Accessible for most intermediate players. Suitable for school or community ensembles.

"The Old Rugged Cross" has been a country gospel favorite ever since it became the title song of Ernest Tubb's 1952 gospel album; it has been performed by some of the twentieth century's most important recording artists, including Andy Griffith, Anne Murray, Brad Paisley, Chet Atkins, John Berry, Floyd Cramer, George Jones, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, Ricky Van Shelton, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. The Oak Ridge Boys, The Statler Brothers, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, George Beverly Shea and John Prine on the 2007 CD "Standard Songs for Average People" with Mac Wiseman. British television dramatist Dennis Potter used the gospel song prominently in several of his plays, most notably Pennies from Heaven (1978); and the song also played a major part in "Gridlock" (2007), an episode of the long-running sci-fi drama series Doctor Who. In early 2009, the song was covered by Johnny Cash and June Carter, Kevin Max, Mahalia Jackson, Merle Haggard, and Patsy Cline. Parts included for this arrangement are: Full Score, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Acoustic Bass (Optional).

Performance Time: Approx. 2 minutes 15 seconds