"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

?The Morning Trumpet,? by Benjamin Franklin White (1800-1879), is a camp revival song published in 1844 in the first edition of The Sacred Harp, a shape-note hymn book compiled by White and E.J. King (1821-1844). Shape-note tunes are often predominantly pentatonic, with harmonies that emphasize stark intervals of fourths and fifths. In four-part harmony, the tune is typically in the tenor voice. This arrangement preserves the tune but harmonizes it in a more contemporary style, and features alternating calls between first and second trumpet. Includes snare drum part (optional, may be successfully performed by brass quintet alone). �Copyright 2012 Todd Marchand / ConSpiritoMusic.com

This pentatonicmelody dates back to the middle ages. It is performed as a slow ballad or anenergetic march and has many titles. Similar to the English hymn tune, Kingsfold,Star of County Down has been used for numerous Hymn and Christmas Carol settings.

Set in thekey of em, the melody is shared equally between parts. Each part is of equaldifficulty. The piece starts and ends with knocking on the soundboard. Dynamicsare clearly marked.