"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

ISBN 9781610657631. The Spirituals Their Story, Their Song Guitar Solos and Songbook is both a collection of guitar solos and a songbook devoted to African-American spirituals. The music is placed in historical context to help the reader better appreciate and interpret this amazing musical legacy. The book provides solo guitar arrangements in standard notation and tablature plus a vocal stave with complete lyrics and chord diagrams for 60 songs of faith, freedom, hope and the human spirit. A companion online audio includes the author's rendition of all of the guitar solos in the book. The book provides an in-depth analysis of the various meanings and messages of the spirituals, and traces the musical forms that grew out of them, namely blues, jazz, gospel, country, calypso, rhythm and blues, soul, and rock. This book is for all who play the guitar including: students, music teachers, parents, performing guitarists, vocalists and anyone with an interest in folk, gospel and sacred music. Includes access to online audio.