Greg Gilpin brings a unique combination of credentials to his work as a choral composer and arranger. An ASCAP award winner and respected conductor, he has led performances at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Ryman Auditorium, Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, and Harpa Concert Hall. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, Gilpin shapes the choral landscape through both his own compositions and his curation of meaningful repertoire for singers at all levels.
Beyond music, Gilpin has expanded into professional organizing and financial coaching, appearing on network television and the series "Hoarders." His creative reach extends to film scoring, including the award-winning short "Rosie's Rescue," and collaborations with opera singers like Angela Brown on innovative arrangements. An active member of ACDA, NAfME, SAG-AFTRA, and a Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Gilpin continues to balance conducting, composing, and teaching as the musical landscape reopens.
Why we love this
Gilpin's arrangement captures the spiritual authenticity of this beloved spiritual while making it genuinely accessible for three-part mixed ensembles. The part writing respects the constraints of mixed voicing without sacrificing the power of the melody or the rhythmic vitality that makes this tune instantly recognizable to audiences.
What to expect
The spiritual radiates resilience and hope. This arrangement honors the testifying quality of the original while creating moments of genuine fullness that allow singers to feel the cumulative power of ensemble singing.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for mixed choirs seeking repertoire that engages both singers and audiences without requiring extensive rehearsal time to sound confident. Festival and contest choirs will find a piece that demonstrates musical maturity and cultural awareness while fitting comfortably into mixed ensemble programs.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the phrases to breathe naturally with the spiritual's call-and-response character; resist the urge to phrase mechanically.
Keep the harmonic foundation steady in the lower voices so the melody can soar without feeling unsupported.
Allow space for subtle rhythmic flexibility in moments where the text demands emphasis, particularly around the central questions of the lyric.
How to use it
Position this as a concert centerpiece or festival selection that bridges sacred and concert programming. It pairs naturally with other spirituals or can anchor a program exploring American choral traditions; the 13-page score length makes it practical for inclusion without consuming rehearsal time needed for longer works.
Skills your students will build
Singing in parallel harmony within three-part mixed voicing
Responding to the rhythmic and textual demands of the spiritual genre
Blending individual lines into a unified ensemble sound
Interpreting ornamentation and phrasing in a call-and-response framework
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