Down in the River

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For many of us, the beautifully simple African-American spiritual, ‘Down In The River’ reemerged in 2000 when it was featured in the soundtrack of the Coen Brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? It was this version, sung so eloquently and soulfully by Alison Krauss that inspired me to do this arrangement for Charles Villarrubia. My concept was to have the low brass imitate the subtle

‘ebb and flow’ and vocal phrasing of an acappella choir singing in a traditional, spiritual setting. All aspects of articulation and phrasing are meant to capture the essence of the human voice.