"Down by the Riverside" (also known as "Ain't GonnaStudy War No More" and "Gonna lay down my burden") isa Negro spiritual song. Its roots date back to beforethe American Civil War, though it was firstpublished in 1918 in Plantation Melodies: A Collection of Modern, Popularand Old-time Negro-Songs of the Southland, Chicago, the Rodeheaver Company.The song has alternatively been known as ?Ain' go'n' to study war no mo'?,?Ain't Gwine to Study War No More?, ?Down by de Ribberside?, ?Going to Pull MyWar-Clothes? and ?Study war no more?

Thelevel is Advanced Intermediate and the duration is 2.39minutes.

Enjoy the old-time gospel feel of this traditional spiritual, arranged by Joanna Mills for soloist(s) + SATB choir. The solo could easily be shared between several singers in any section as it is set in an accessible range (D5 - D4 - Basses or Baritones sing it an octave lower). This arrangement features a fun call-and-response format, with some back-up harmonies that your choir will love singing, and starts and finishes with a building vamp section. Perfect for Black History Month services or assemblies, or services about peace and justice.

Joanna Mills is the Gospel Choir Director at Roncesvalles United Church in Toronto, Canada, and has been writing and arranging choral music for 15 years. Her compositions and arrangements are performed regularly by her own choir and others around the world and have won awards in songwriting competitions. She also teaches musical theatre, voice and piano.

Down by the Riverside is an Afro-American Spiritual Hymn and Song. This version is arranged as a duet for one Trumpet and one Tenor Saxophone.

Down by the Riverside was sung in African-American communities before the American Civil War but did not appear in print until included in a 1918 collection of spirituals. Several versions were recorded by gospel choirs in the ?20s and ?30s, and Down by the Riverside, with its lyric, "I ain?t goin? to study war no more", was adopted as an anti-war song by the ?60s counterculture.

Down by the Riverside is simply arranged in a key and range best suited to the instruments. Three choruses and two verses are played, with variations, in a gospel swing style. Click the link above to listen to a full Youtube performance of the Clarinet version of this duet.

Down by the Riverside is suitable for players at an intermediate level and above. With a performance time of around three minutes, this version of Down by the Riverside is perfect for worship and concert performances, both formal and informal.

Vigorous and uplifting music! This is a new arrangement and have an interesting piano acompainment with an "old style" Saloon Pianola figures and ornaments. The SATB vocal part was modified and in this piece gained very rich but at the same time, an intuiticious harmony. There´s also a mouth and hand percussion part with will give an important rithmic feel to the style.I´m sure that your choir will adore to sing this piece.

Boogie Woogie style treatment of "Down By The Riverside". Drums and Bass are included but absolutely not required. You'll have lots of fun playing this one.

Clean, straightforward, arrangement of the traditional spiritual for Men?s a cappella Quartet (TTBB) and piano with chord symbols that may be played as written, or improvised by more skillful players if desired. Also, suitable for larger men?s group, chorus or Glee Club.