Greg Gilpin combines a prolific career as a choral composer and arranger with leadership roles at some of the world's most prestigious venues. His work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House, and Royal Festival Hall, establishing him as a sought-after voice in contemporary choral music. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press and an ASCAP award-winning artist, Gilpin has shaped the repertoire that directors program in concert halls and festivals across the country.
Beyond the music world, Gilpin has built a second career as a certified financial coach and professional organizer, blending his meticulous approach to composition with real-world problem-solving. His diverse work includes scoring the award-winning short film "Rosie's Rescue" and collaborating with opera singer Angela Brown on innovative arrangements. A Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Gilpin remains active as a conductor, composer, and educator, energizing the choral landscape as music communities continue to flourish.
Why we love this
Gilpin's arrangement of this spiritual classic brings fresh musicality to familiar material without abandoning the emotional core that makes the piece resonate with audiences. The 2-part voicing opens this powerful spiritual to younger ensembles and mixed-voice groups, yet the arrangement never feels simplified. His hand is evident in the harmonic sophistication and the way the text lands with real impact, making this a showcase piece rather than a filler selection.
What to expect
This arrangement honors the spiritual's roots while allowing modern voices to claim the text as their own. The music breathes with hope and testimony, inviting singers and listeners alike to engage with questions of faith and deliverance that transcend time.
Who it's for
Middle school, high school, and community choirs seeking accessible yet meaningful sacred music. Directors working with developing ensembles or mixed voices will find this arrangement within reach while still offering interpretive depth and concert-quality repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
Allow time for the spiritual's story to unfold. Resist rushing the phrasing; the questions posed in the text work best when each phrase has breathing room and weight.
Balance the parts so the second voice supports rather than competes. This arrangement shines when the two lines create dialogue, not opposition.
Attend to the recorded accompaniment for rhythmic grounding, but encourage singers to listen to one another across the divisi sections so the blend feels organic rather than locked.
Shape dynamics with the text's arc in mind. The narrative of deliverance carries emotional momentum that linear dynamics will flatten.
How to use it
This piece serves as a natural pairing for concerts centered on American sacred music, spiritual traditions, or cultural heritage. It also functions beautifully in mixed-genre festivals where gospel and concert music share the stage, and its emotional accessibility makes it a strong closer that leaves audiences moved rather than exhausted.
Skills your students will build
Singing in parallel and divisi voicing across 2-part writing
Interpreting text with spiritual authenticity and cultural awareness
Balancing tone between parts while maintaining phrase independence
Sustaining legit engagement with a narrative-driven sacred text
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