Spiritual: Swing low, sweet chariot for trombone quintet and drum set

“Swing low, sweet chariot” for trombone quintet

“Swing Low Sweet Chariot” is an African-American spiritual or folk song. As a folk song, it is thought to have been created by a community rather than an individual, in this case the community of African-American slaves prior to the Civil War. However, another often cited source of origin is Wallis Willis (known as “Uncle Wallace”), a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian Territory in what is now in Oklahoma. According to some researches he composed the song.

To this day, “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” has remained popular, performed by gospel singers throughout the world, imbuing audiences with religious spirituality. This arrangement of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” for trombone quintet was made by Aron Simon and has not been recorded yet.

The first recordings

In December 1909, the Fisk University Jubilee Quartet entered the Victor Studios in Camden, New Jersey, and recorded “Swing low sweet chariot” along with 11 other songs for the first time in history. Two years later the Apollo Jubilee Quartette recorded the song on Monday, February 26, 1912, Columbia Records in New York City. Ever since these legendary first recordings this widely known spiritual song has been recorded many times.

“Swing low sweet chariot” has been sung by rugby players and fans for some decades. During these decades many claimed that they sung this tune the first time. No one proved it yet.

Poem Text

Swing low sweet chariot
Comin’ for to carry me home,

Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Comin’ for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, an’ what did I see,
Comin’ for to carry me home,
A band of angels comin’ after me,
Comin’ for to carry me home.

If you get-a dere befo’ I do,
Comin’ for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I’m comin’ too
Comin’ for to carry me home.