About This Composition “Go Down, Moses” is an African-American spiritual. As a folk song, it is thought of as having been created by a community rather than an individual. In this case, the community of African-American slaves who lived in the South prior to the Civil War are its authors. An early reference to it places it in Fort Monroe in a Contraband camp. Contraband camps were refugee camps to which between four and five hundred thousand enslaved men, women, and children in the Union-occupied portions of the Confederacy fled to escape their owners by getting themselves to the Union Army. “Go Down, Moses” is also said to have been sung by abolitionists to signal escape or rebellion. The lyrics use biblical imagery expressing the desire for a release from bondage. The song is marked by its strong tone of determination in the struggle for freedom. To this day, “Go Down, Moses” has remained popular and is performed by gospel singers throughout the world. It was the first spiritual to gain national (i.e., white) popularity. President Lincoln visited Contraband camps frequently and on one documented occasion joined a prayer meeting and sang along, often overcome with emotion, to “Go Down Moses” and other songs. This arrangement has several surprises, including straight rhythm which evolves into “swing” rhythm, an intricate solo for advanced players, percussive parts, a bluesy bass riff and a polytonal chordal ending in which one big 8-note chord is played together, though each section is playing a different chord or note!
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