Fight the Dragons: Choral SoundPax

Greg Gilpin's arrangement captures the emotional core of Lippa's score while building something genuinely rewarding for men's voices. The piece balances vulnerability with the kind of unforced strength that resonates with ensemble singers; there's no forced chest-thumping here, just honest music about what it means to be brave.

There's an almost conversational warmth here, like someone sharing a hard-won truth over coffee. The music swells with genuine affection and quiet determination, capturing that moment when adventure isn't about grand gestures but about showing up for the people you love.

Men's choruses, college choral ensembles, high school select choirs, and community theater groups looking for meaningful contemporary repertoire. The 12-page SoundPax format makes it accessible without oversimplifying the arrangement.

• Balance the melody between your section leads and supporting voices so the song's narrative clarity comes through without sounding thin in the accompaniment lines.
• Lean into the storytelling quality of the text; this isn't a vocal showpiece but a moment of connection. Let the lyrics breathe.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the groove early, then trust the ensemble's musicality to carry the emotional arc in rehearsals.

Program this alongside other contemporary choral works from the Alfred Pop Choral Series to showcase your ensemble's range. It pairs well in a concert that explores themes of family, growth, or contemporary storytelling, and it works equally well as a standalone feature or as part of a musical theater retrospective.

• Balancing melody and accompaniment in homophonic texture
• Singing through sustained phrases with consistent breath support
• Interpreting Broadway-style diction and phrasing
• Connecting emotional content to vocal production