Higher Ground: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Stevie Wonder / Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00149168
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Description
Stevie Wonder's career as a songwriter and recording artist are virtually unequalled in the industry. This 1973 pop hit draws on his gospel roots with a healthy dose of funk to create a powerful showcase that your singers will love to perform! Duration: ca. 3:00.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00149168
More about this title
About the Composer: Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder emerged in the 1960s as a multi-instrumental prodigy and became one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century. His mastery of harmonic language, rhythmic sophistication, and genre-blending approach fundamentally shaped pop, R&B, funk, and soul music. His work draws deeply from gospel traditions while pushing into experimental territory, making him endlessly relevant to music educators seeking authentic examples of genre fusion.
Wonder's catalog demonstrates how accessibility and artistic depth coexist. His songs function equally well in concert halls and on radio, a rare achievement that makes his compositions ideal teaching tools for students learning how popular music can sustain both emotional impact and musical complexity.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement taps into what makes this 1973 track irresistible: the spiritual conviction beneath the funk grooves. Your singers get to inhabit a song built on genuine gospel underpinnings rather than surface-level stylistic borrowing, which means they can bring real conviction to every phrase. The combo voicing keeps things lean and punchy, perfect for groups looking to program contemporary music without losing textural clarity.
What to expect
Propulsive and purposeful, with an undeniable forward momentum. The arrangement channels the original's unshakeable confidence: part celebration, part invocation, moving with the ease of something that knows exactly what it is.
Who it's for
Combo choirs ready to tackle contemporary repertoire with substance. This works especially well for groups comfortable with pop and R&B idioms who want to stretch into material that respects those traditions while maintaining musical legitimacy.
How to get the most out of it
- Anchor the performance on the gospel roots. The funk elements will breathe naturally if your singers feel the spiritual foundation underneath; focus rehearsals on the lyrical intention first, then layer the rhythmic precision.
- Establish pocket early. Lock the rhythm section into a tight, relaxed groove before layering vocals; this song lives in restraint, not overstatement.
- Shape the dynamics with restraint. Resist the urge to belt; the power comes from clarity and conviction, especially in how the harmonies stack and resolve.
- Balance the soloist thoughtfully. If your arrangement includes a lead voice, keep it conversational rather than operatic. The best performances sound like someone testifying, not performing.
How to use it
Pair this with spirituals or contemporary gospel arrangements to build a thematic program exploring how faith and groove intersect across American music. It also serves as an excellent bridge piece in a concert mixing standards with modern pop, signaling that your ensemble can inhabit multiple musical worlds with credibility.
Skills your students will build
- Funk and R&B rhythmic phrasing with gospel inflection
- Blend and balance in close harmony writing
- Syncopated rhythmic independence within harmonic context
- Stylistically authentic articulation and interpretation of contemporary popular music