Don't Give Up: SATB Choral Octavo
Words and music by Robert T. Gibson and Michael S. Engelhardt
Item: 00-PO-0007330
$2.40
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
"Keep your head up and never look down" with this driving gospel-style original. Every voice part gets something exciting to sing when the soulful unison opening breaks into a variety of choral textures. Complete with a stacked-harmony bridge and an a cappella section with claps, the independent vocal lines build to an epic ending. Download free parts for your rhythm section or perform with the kickin' SoundTrax.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0007330
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert T. Gibson
Robert T. Gibson conducts, teaches, and composes from a deep commitment to developing the next generation of music educators. A Houston native with degrees from the University of North Texas and Missouri State University, Gibson has directed choirs at middle school, high school, collegiate, and church levels while guest clinician work has taken him across Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Tennessee, and New York. At Missouri State, he conducted the Gospel Choir and founded the Multicultural Ensemble, both of which featured university students alongside community musicians.
Gibson's contributions to choral music have earned recognition including the 2020 Missouri Choral Directors Association Opus Award for his arrangement of "We Shall Overcome" and the 2022 NAACP Trailblazer Award. His choirs have performed at the Missouri Music Education Association Conference and the Democratic Party Banquet in Springfield, while his arrangements and compositions appear through Walton Music and Alfred Publications. Work by Texas and Missouri all-state ensembles has included his pieces.
Why we love this
Gibson writes gospel arrangements that actually give every singer something to do. The progression from unison to layered textures feels intentional rather than imposed, and directors appreciate how the piece balances accessibility with genuine musical interest. That a cappella section with claps gives your ensemble a memorable moment without requiring specialized instrumentation.
What to expect
The opening pulls listeners in with a unified voice before the arrangement opens up into rich, independent lines that feel both celebratory and introspective. Gospel grooves meet refined four-part writing, creating something that sounds modern without sacrificing harmonic depth or emotional authenticity.
Who it's for
High school and college choirs looking for repertoire with contemporary energy and genuine substance. This works equally well for concert settings and community engagements where an uplifting, gospel-inflected message resonates.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the unison opening land with restraint. The power comes from precision and tone quality, not volume; save the drive for when the voices split.
- Treat the stacked-harmony bridge as a moment to showcase blend rather than individual voices. Lock the vowels across all four parts before worrying about dynamics.
- The a cappella section only works if your ensemble can hold a steady pulse without conducting. Rehearse the clap pattern independently first so singers trust the rhythm.
- If using the SoundTrax, pull it back during the bridge so the choir's harmony becomes the focal point.
How to use it
Pair this with spirituals or other gospel arrangements for a thematic concert focused on resilience and joy. The piece also serves as a standout closer for a mixed repertoire program, where its energy and optimism leave audiences with something to hold onto.
Skills your students will build
- Singing sustained unison with focused tone quality
- Balancing independent melodic lines within four-part texture
- Maintaining rhythmic cohesion in a cappella sections
- Shaping gospel-style phrasing and articulation
- Blending voices across changing harmonic layers