A Celebration of Spirituals: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00470955
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Description
Three great spirituals, "Great Day," "Somebody's Knocking" and "What a Morning" fill this medley with celebratory energy. The accompaniment is crafted with pulse and weaves throughout the full, dynamic vocals. There is also opportunity for solo performances. A wonderful choice to begin your program or as a final number. Score and Parts (fl 1-2, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn 1-2, tba, timp, perc 1-2, hp, pno/syn, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00470955
More about this title
About the Arranger: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University in South Carolina and continued his training at the University of Texas, Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department. His concert career has taken him across the United States and Mexico, including performances with major symphony orchestras and a national broadcast recital from Mexico City.
Martin's output spans an unusually broad range, from concert works to sacred music and choral arrangements. His compositions and arrangements appear everywhere from Carnegie Hall to regional theaters to church sanctuaries across North America. Based in Austin, Texas, he continues to balance performance commitments with an active composing and arranging practice that keeps surprising performers and audiences alike.
Why we love this
Martin orchestrates spirituals with genuine rhythmic sophistication rather than simply doubling vocal lines. The accompaniment drives the medley forward without overwhelming the voices, and the inclusion of solo opportunities gives shape to what could otherwise feel like a straightforward trilogy of numbers. It works equally well as an opener (setting an energetic tone) or closer (leaving audiences on a high note).
What to expect
Celebratory and rooted. The medley carries forward the joy inherent in these spirituals while giving them contemporary orchestral language. The arrangement honors the tradition without feeling antiquated.
Who it's for
Any choral program seeking accessible spirituals arranged for full orchestra. Directors working with mixed ensembles (choir plus band or orchestra) will find the scoring practical and the energy infectious. This works for high school and college groups alike.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the full orchestra against the choir by running rehearsals where the band sits out entirely, then returns. This teaches singers to find their independence before layering in instrumental color.
- Mark the solo passages separately in your rehearsal score. Identify who will sing these moments early and give those singers confidence through targeted preparation.
- Listen carefully to the timpani and percussion parts; Martin uses them to clarify rhythmic phrases and punctuate textual meaning. Clean articulation there lifts the whole ensemble.
- Let the harp and piano anchor the pulse together during rehearsals before the full band enters. This foundation keeps everything grounded once all parts combine.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to immediately establish energy and warmth with your audience. Alternatively, close a program on it if you want the final impression to be one of brightness and unity. The piece also serves well in festivals or community performances where you want a statement of connection and joy.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing vocal lines against a full orchestral accompaniment
- Performing solo passages within an ensemble context
- Executing stylistic interpretation of traditional spirituals
- Maintaining ensemble cohesion across varied instrumental combinations
- Responding to rhythmic momentum created by percussion and timpani