SWING LOW

Tune Information

Title: SWING LOW
Place Of Origin: United States
Meter: Irregular
Incipit: 31311 65111 13555
Key: G Major
Source: African-American spiritual
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

A pentatonic melody, SWING LOW has the musical structure of "call and response" (solo and chorus) which is common in the rote practices associated with African American spirituals. Use a vocal soloist or a small group of voices for the marked unison segments and have the entire congregation sing the harmony parts. Although ideally this spiritual is sung unaccompanied, the continual changes from unison to harmony can also be emphasized with instruments. Some melodic and rhythmic liberties should be taken in singing the solo lines. Do not rush!

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • The Gospel Pianist: 25 Hymn Embellishments for Worship
    Composer/Editor Donald F. Marsh
    Published By: Abingdon Press (1999) pp. 21
  • Favorite Hymn Tunes in Dual Settings Book 3: For All Organs
    Composer/Editor Arthur E. Bergman
    Published By: King Music Publishing Co. (1964) pp. 30

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations: Instrumental Solo

  • Sacred Songs for Instruments: Melody and Harmony for Solo or Duet Performance
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1980) pp. 13

Organ Solo

  • Mosaics: Organ Music for Worship and Concert
    Composer/Editor Lawrence P. Schreiber
    Published By: The Sacred Music Press (2019) pp. 25
  • Foundation!: Hymns and Songs of Faith for Organ
    Composer/Editors Ron Sprunger; Lloyd A. Larson
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2014) pp. 44
  • The Organist's Companion Volume 31 Number 2 January 2009 General, Lent, Holy Week, Funerals: A Bi-monthly Journal of Quality Organ Music for the Practical Church Musician
    Composer/Editors Wayne Leupold; Roy L. Belfield, Jr.
    Published By: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. (2009) pp. 4
  • Just a Closer Walk: Ten Voluntaries on Spirituals and Gospel Hymns
    Composer/Editor Carlton R. Young
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2006) pp. 30
  • Organ Exaltation Revised Edition: Now including extensive hymn background information
    Composer/Editor Rick Parks
    Published By: The FJH Music Company, Inc. (2005) pp. 33
  • Augsburg Organ Library Autumn
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Barbara Harbach
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2003) pp. 96
  • Hymn Preludes for the Church Year Book 2: Ordinary Time
    Composer/Editor Rosalie Bonighton
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2001) pp. 242
  • A Spiritual Pair: Diptcych for Organ
    Composer/Editor Dan Locklair
    Published By: Hal Leonard Corporation (1996) pp. 3
  • Favorite Spirituals: For Organ
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1993) pp. 19
  • Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1993) pp. 11
  • Composer/Editor Ralph Simpson
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1993) pp. 6
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 55 Number 6 August 1992: A Bi-monthly Anthology for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; James Mansfield
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1992) pp. 10
  • Spirituals for Organ
    Composer/Editor Olive Nelson Russell
    Published By: Belwin-Mills Publishing Corporation (1990) pp. 22
  • The Organist Volume 91 Number 2 May 1987: A Bi-Monthly Publication for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors James Mansfield; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1987) pp. 59
  • Organ Music for Funerals and Memorial Services Book I
    Composer/Editor Wilbur C. Held
    Published By: Augsburg Publishing House (1986) pp. 12
  • The Amateur Organist No. 94: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor John Troutman
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 22
  • The Amateur Organist Number 94: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor John Troutman
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 22
  • The Organist Volume 88 Number 2 May 1984: A Bi-monthly Magazine for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors James Mansfield; John Troutman
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 22
  • Organ Exaltation: Hymn Arrangements by Rick Parks
    Composer/Editor Rick Parks
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1982) pp. 34
  • Fred Bock's Great Gospel Hits: For All Organs
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1978) pp. 38
  • Fred Bock's Greatest Gospel Hits: For All Organs
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1978) pp. 38
  • Favorite Sacred Melodies: For the Hammond Organ
    Composer/Editor William Stickles
    Published By: G. Schirmer, Inc. (1956) pp. 42
  • Improvisations on Negro Spirituals: For Hammond Organ with Pipe Organ Registration
    Composer/Editor Virginia Carrington Thomas
    Published By: Ethel Smith Music Corporation (1951) pp. 14
  • Funeral Hymn Voluntaries
    Composer/Editor Ellen Jane Lorenz
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1950) pp. 50

Piano Solo

  • Good News!: 10 Spirituals for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editors Lloyd A. Larson; Joel Raney
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2015) pp. 31
  • Spiritual Reflections for Paino
    Composer/Editor John Carter
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2014) pp. 21
  • Keyboard Worship & Praise Volume 4 Number 3 January February March 2011: The Best of Christian Music for Today's Church
    Composer/Editors Larry Shackley; Kurt Kaiser
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2011) pp. 16
  • Solos for the Sanctuary: Spirituals: 7 Piano Solos for the Church Pianist
    Composer/Editor Glenda Austin
    Published By: The Willis Music Company (2011) pp. 16
  • The Spirituals Collection: 15 Timeless Melodies
    Composer/Editor Phillip Keveren
    Published By: Hal Leonard Corporation (2010) pp. 27
  • Hymns of Refuge and Strength: Artistic Settings for the Advanced Pianist
    Composer/Editor Marilyn Thompson
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2009) pp. 9
  • The Complete Worship Suites: 18 Expressive Suites Arranged for Solo Piano Correlated with Scriptural Themes
    Composer/Editor Robert D. Vandall
    Published By: Alfred Music Publishing Company, Inc. (2009) pp. 58
  • Be Thou My Vision: Hymn Settings for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editor Matt Limbaugh
    Published By: The FJH Music Company, Inc. (2005) pp. 42
  • Praise, Prayer & Promise: Creative Hymn Settings for the Piano Soloist
    Composer/Editor Jolene Boyd
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2005) pp. 40
  • Be Thou My Vision: Ten Meditative Hymns for Piano
    Composer/Editor Michael Larkin
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2004) pp. 25
  • Come, Thou Fount: Piano Solos to Touch the Heart
    Composer/Editor J. Bert Carlson
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2004) pp. 32
  • Poor Wayfaring Stranger: Five Spirituals for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editor Teresa Wihelmi
    Published By: The FJH Music Company, Inc. (2004) pp. 12
  • African-American Spirituals: Arrangements for Piano by James Pethel
    Composer/Editor James Pethel
    Published By: GlorySound (2003) pp. 10
  • Traditional Hymns Level 5: Hal Leonard Student Piano Library
    Composer/Editor Mona Rejino
    Published By: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (2002) pp. 10
  • Best of Kurt Kaiser: Classic Arrangements for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editor Kurt Kaiser
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (2001) pp. 26
  • Big Gold Book of Medium Difficult Piano Solos
    Composer/Editors Carol McMillen Tornquist; Ken Barker; Teresa Patterson Wilhelmi
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (2000) pp. 28
  • Inspirational Treasures: Instrumental Favorite Hymns
    Composer/Editor Gary Prim
    Published By: Combs Music International (1999) pp. 62
  • American Hymn Classics: Piano Collection
    Composer/Editor Chuck Marohnic
    Published By: GlorySound (1998) pp. 24
  • Well-Tempered Jazz
    Composer/Editor Mark Hayes
    Published By: GlorySound (1998) pp. 65
  • Eternal Spirit: Introspective Settings of Eight Ageless Hymns
    Composer/Editor Gail Lorraine Hazard
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1997) pp. 5
  • Praise in Many Colors: Hymns, Spirituals, Gospel Songs, and Carols Arranged for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editor Melody Bober
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1996) pp. 15
  • Composer/Editor John Carter
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (1990) pp. 5
  • Beautiful Hymns and Spirituals
    Composer/Editor Lee Evans
    Published By: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (1989) pp. 22
  • Dino Kartsonakis
    Composer/Editor Dino Kartsonakis
    Published By: The Benson Company, Inc. (1988) pp. 16
  • Go Down, Moses: Hymns We Play and Sing Book V
    Composer/Editor Myra Schubert
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1986) pp. 46
  • Composer/Editor Calvin Taylor
    Published By: Ron Harris Music (1986) pp. 41
  • Just Hooked by Gospel: Keyboard Folio
    Composer/Editors Don Wyrtzen; Carol McMillen
    Published By: Singspiration Music, Inc. (1984) pp. 37
  • The Music of Kurt Kaiser
    Composer/Editor Kurt Kaiser
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (1984) pp. 26
  • Spiritual Cameos: A Set of Distinctive Piano Transcriptions
    Composer/Editors Dorothy I. Strohman; John W. Schaum
    Published By: Schaum Publications, Inc. (1976) pp. 14
  • Gospel Piano Stylings
    Composer/Editor Betty Jean Chatham
    Published By: Crescendo Publications, Inc. (1975) pp. 44
  • Spirituals at the Piano: Beloved Melodies Arranged by Peggy Tolson
    Composer/Editor Peggy Tolson
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1969) pp. 18
  • Preludes to Faith
    Composer/Editor Kurt Kaiser
    Published By: Sacred Songs (1964) pp. 21
  • Preludes to Faith Volume 1
    Composer/Editor Kurt Kaiser
    Published By: Sacred Songs (1964) pp. 21
  • Preludes to Faith Volume 1: Piano Solos
    Composer/Editor Kurt Kaiser
    Published By: Sacred Songs (1964) pp. 21
  • Famous Negro Spirituals
    Composer/Editor Hugo Frey
    Published By: Robbins Music Corporation (1924) pp. 14

Piano and Organ Duet

  • A Symphony of Spirituals for Piano and Organ
    Composer/Editor Joel Raney
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2001) pp. 12, 15
  • Six Hymns for Organ & Piano
    Composer/Editor Eleanor W. Whitsett
    Published By: National Music Publishers (1997) pp. 11

Instruments: Instrumental Solo

  • Sacred Songs for Instruments: Melody and Harmony for Solo or Duet Performance
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1980) pp. 13

Instruments: Piano and Keyboard Duet

  • Light for the Journey: Creative Duets for Piano and Electronic Keyboard
    Composer/Editor Marilyn Thompson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2014) pp. 56

Piano Duet+: Piano Duet One Piano

  • Four in the Spirit: Four-Hand Piano Duets of Beloved Spirituals
    Composer/Editors James Pethel; Stan Pethel
    Published By: Jubilate Music (2022) pp. 30
  • Good News for 4-Hands!: Festive Piano Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Lloyd Larson
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2018) pp. 3
  • Composer/Editor Lloyd A. Larson
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2011) pp. 37

Voices: Vocal Solo

  • Tennessee Ernie Ford's Book of Favorite Hymns
    Composer/Editor Ernest J. Ford
    Published By: Bramhall House (1962) pp. 56
  • Album of Negro Spirituals: 26 Favorite Examples of America's Greatest Contribution to the World of Music
    Composer/Editor John Rosamond Johnson
    Published By: Edward B. Marks Music Company (1940) pp. 2
  • Your Favorite Negro Spirituals: Arranged for Solo Voice with Piano
    Published By: Shawnee Press, Inc. (1938) pp. 2

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The Cyber Hymnal #6434
Text: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #617
Text: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
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Worship and Rejoice #520
Text: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #140
Text: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
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Instances

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찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #384

Include 28 pre-1979 instances
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