Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1316871 By Sharon Kaplan. By Sharon Kaplan. 19th Century,20th Century,Contemporary,Folk,Historic. Score. 16 pages. Weopleland #905541. Published by Weopleland (A0.1316871). The Road to Freedom is a collection of settings of four spirituals meant to describe the longing of the African-American slaves on American plantations for freedom. Many of these were based on biblical themes, the better to fool the slave-owners. The first song, Let My People Go, was used to let slaves know that Harriet Tubman, known as Moses, was in the area and ready to lead them from slavery to freedom. The second, Deep River,  refers to the River Jordan and to crossing into campground, the promised Biblical land, but that was code for the Ohio River and passing into the north and freedom.  Wade in the Water reminded slaves running away that by wading in the water they could hide their scent from the dogs pursuing them.  Oh, Wasn't That a Wide River - and then one more and maybe another to cross on the way to freedom. These lovely arrangements catch the spirit of the experience.
