Fight the Dragons: Choral SoundPax

Greg Gilpin's arrangement captures the warmth and sincerity of Lippa's original while building a men's piece that avoids both bombast and sentimentality. The orchestration balances vulnerability with confidence, giving singers a vehicle that feels age-appropriate and genuinely moving rather than oversold.

Warm and conversational, with moments of genuine tenderness balanced by quiet strength. The piece has an unforced quality, as if the singers are telling a story that matters to them rather than performing a role.

Men's choirs, octets, and smaller male vocal ensembles looking for repertoire that speaks to their voices without asking them to sound like something they're not. This works equally well for high school and college-level singers, and for community groups seeking material with both substance and accessibility.

• Let the recorded accompaniment establish the emotional tone early; this piece lives in intimacy before it builds, so resist pushing the dynamic intensity in early rehearsals.
• Shape the father-son narrative through contrast between sections; this isn't about vocal power but about the specific moments where the text shifts its focus.
• Support the upper voices in their moments of vulnerability without drowning them in lower part weight.
• Attend closely to the lyrical line in the melody; clear vowel formation and sustained legit sound matter more than volume here.

Slot this as a feature for a concert celebrating Broadway music, or program it alongside other pieces that explore family bonds and coming-of-age themes. It works well as a closer to a set of lighter repertoire, or as a slower contrasting piece in an otherwise energetic concert.

• Blending sustained notes across multiple voice parts
• Maintaining legit tone production in both soft and moderate dynamics
• Phrasing through lyrical storytelling rather than technical demands
• Reading and interpreting emotional subtext within ensemble texture