Greg Gilpin brings decades of conducting and composing experience to his work as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press. His performances have graced major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House, and Royal Festival Hall, earning him recognition as an ASCAP award-winning composer whose arrangements are performed by choirs across the country.
Beyond the choral world, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring, earning Best Score recognition for the short film "Rosie's Rescue." He holds memberships in ACDA, NAfME, and SAG-AFTRA, and remains a Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Why we love this
Gilpin's handling of this spiritual gives it space to breathe while maintaining the energy that makes the tune so singable. The SATB voicing sits comfortably across all four parts without sacrificing the harmonic richness that elevates a familiar spiritual into something your choir will genuinely enjoy rehearsing.
What to expect
There's an undeniable resilience and joy woven through this arrangement, the kind that comes from a melody rooted in lived faith and endurance. When your singers connect with the text, the music naturally finds its heart without requiring theatrical embellishment.
Who it's for
Any SATB choir ready to engage with a spiritual that works equally well in concert, worship, or festival settings. The 13-page score offers substance without excessive complexity, making it accessible for community, collegiate, and secondary choirs.
How to get the most out of it
Honor the rhythmic swagger of the spiritual by feeling the pulse in your body during early rehearsals; this keeps the interpretation grounded rather than allowing it to become overly polished or detached.
Balance the solo or semi-solo moments carefully so they feel like genuine communication rather than a featured performance, preserving the collective spirit of the piece.
Keep the tempo conversational and allow the text to drive the phrasing; resist the urge to rush through sections simply because they lie well under the voices.
How to use it
Slot this as a standalone offering on a concert celebrating American musical traditions, or pair it with other spirituals to create a cohesive set that showcases the genre's harmonic and textual depth. It also works beautifully in worship contexts where congregational participation or direct thematic connection matters.
Skills your students will build
Phrasing and text expression in the spiritual tradition
Four-part harmonic independence across vocal ranges
Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
Call-and-response or antiphonal singing techniques
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