Joseph M. Martin trained as a concert pianist, earning degrees in piano performance from Furman University and the University of Texas at Austin. He spent five years teaching piano pedagogy at UT Austin while maintaining an active performance schedule, appearing as a soloist with orchestras across the United States and Mexico and winning the prestigious Nina Plant Wideman Competition, which led to a featured performance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra.
Though his music has graced stages from Carnegie Hall to regional theaters, Martin has increasingly focused his considerable talents on church music and sacred composition. His arrangements and original works now reach congregations and worship services across North America, reflecting a deliberate shift toward music that serves spiritual communities. He resides in Austin, Texas with his family.
Why we love this
Martin's treatment of this spiritual classic brings fresh energy while respecting the melody's emotional core. The five-page octavo sits comfortably in most choir ranges and offers enough harmonic interest to engage singers without becoming unwieldy for mid-level ensembles, making it a genuine workhorse for holiday programming.
What to expect
Joyful and grounded, with the unmistakable warmth of a spiritual that has been sung for generations. Martin's arrangement honors that tradition while adding enough harmonic color to remind singers why this message still resonates.
Who it's for
Any SATB choir seeking repertoire that speaks to Christmas and Epiphany seasons with both familiarity and freshness. The five-page length and accessible voicing suit church choirs, school concert groups, and community ensembles alike.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the melodic line expressively throughout rather than letting it settle into a march. The text demands proclamation, but sustained phrasing creates deeper emotional connection.
Balance the harmony parts carefully in the first statement so the soprano line remains the clear focal point; this clarity matters when audiences recognize the tune.
Use the final section to build genuinely, allowing dynamics and energy to grow rather than rushing the climax. Restraint in the middle keeps the ending impactful.
Pay attention to diction of 'tell' and 'mountain' across all parts, ensuring clarity without exaggeration, especially when multiple voice parts move together.
How to use it
Place this in a holiday concert where you want the audience to join the emotional momentum without requiring them to read music. It pairs naturally with other spirituals and sacred works, or it can anchor a Christmas program on its own merit as a powerful closing number.
Skills your students will build
Sustaining phrase momentum across longer melodic lines
Balancing melodic clarity with harmonic density in four-part writing
Singing with stylistic authenticity in the spiritual tradition
Blending upper harmony voices while maintaining textual intelligibility
Managing dynamic contrast and emotional buildup over multiple sections
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