Deep River, My Home Is Over Jordan
by James McCullough
4-Part - Sheet Music

Baritone voice solo, SATB choir unaccompanied - Intermediate

SKU: EC.8085

Composed by James McCullough. Spirituals. Thanksgiving, African American Heritage, Black History Month. Octavo. E.C. Schirmer Publishing #8085. Published by E.C. Schirmer Publishing (EC.8085).

ISBN 600313480850. UPC: 600313480850. English. Deuteronomy 12:1.

Of the multitude of settings of this title, I have tried to bring to this one something musically fresh, unique, and historically and improvisationally correct. I have abandoned the often overly lush, commercial sounding harmonies. That aspect has been replaced by using H.T. Burleigh's unadorned adaption of the poignant, anonymous, original melody. It is used in a seamless, unfolding flow through the introduction, walking bass line, tropes, and codetta. It is the first setting with notes that fully explain the meaning of the words from the traditional text. A brief sketch of Black History is given, as well as a summary of why this work is singularly unique in the history of American music. It also is a heartfelt celebration of the African-American Spiritual, and the 150th anniversary of the 'Emancipation Proclamation'(1863-2013).-James McCullough.