Low Bridge, Everybody Down

Price: 
$98.00

Low Bridge, Everybody Down

Arranger/Composer: 

McMichael, Catherine

Item Code:
11500
Publisher: 
C. Alan Publications

from 'Great Lakes Voyage'

Commonly known as "The Erie Canal", Low Bridge, Everybody Down is the 2nd movement of Catherine McMichael's larger work, Great Lakes Voyage. This setting of the popular folk song is a laid-back toe-tapper set in 12/8.

Program Notes

Great Lakes Voyage was commissioned to celebrate the memory of Andy Anderson, a charter member of the Bay Concert Band. The charge was to create a piece that would have special meaning for the band, and one that Andy would have enjoyed playing. Great Lakes folk song themes seemed a natural topic. The tunes chosen include:

I. Bigler’s Crew
II. Low Bridge, Everybody Down (commonly known as The Erie Canal, written by Gov. Thomas Allen of NY in 1913)
III. Nearer, My God, To Thee (Sarah F. Adams, 1841), The Persia Crew, also known as Lake Huron’s Rockbound Shore
IV. The Huron Carol (French Canadian Tune), Hoot Owl Song (Chippewa/Objiwa, collected by Gertrude Prokosch Kurath), What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor and Once More A-Lumbering Go (collected by Earl Clifton Beck)

Low Bridge, Everybody Down
(The Erie Canal)

I got a mule, her name is Sal; fifteen years on the Erie Canal.
She’s a good ol’ pal; fifteen years on the Erie Canal.
We’ve hauled some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay,
And we know every step of the way from Albany to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, ‘cause we’re coming to a town;
And you’ll always know your neighbor, you’ll always know your pal,
If you ever navigated on the Erie Canal.

In celebration of Andy Anderson, a charter member of the Bay Concert Band, Bay City, MI

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2006
Number of Players: Standard
Duration: 2:30

Sample PDF

  • lowbridge.pdf

    • Instrumentation

    Piccolo
    Flute 1/2
    Oboe
    Bassoon 1/2
    Clarinet in Bb 1
    Clarinet in Bb 2/3
    Bass Clarinet
    Alto Saxophone 1/2
    Tenor Saxophone
    Baritone Saxophone

    Trumpet in Bb 1
    Trumpet in Bb 2/3
    Horn in F 1/3
    Horn in F 2/4
    Trombone 1/2
    Bass Trombone
    Euphonium
    (Baritone T.C.)
    Tuba

    Percussion 1 (chimes)
    Percussion 2 (snare drum, bass drum)
    Percussion 3 (triangle, suspended cymbal)