I Can Sing!: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Words by James Weldon Johnson, music and additional words by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0008294
$2.60
Minimum order quantity: 10 copies
Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
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Description
Greg Gilpin captures the uplifting message in James Weldon Johnson's poem: music can carry us through dark nights, long days, life's challenges. Opening with hushed, layered entrances, the piece steadily gathers strength as lightly syncopated phrases pass around the ensemble. The "music is all around me" refrain declares that music itself is where we belong. A joyful reminder of why we sing in the first place.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0008294
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin brings decades of choral conducting and composing expertise to every piece he writes. His work has been performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House, and Royal Festival Hall, establishing him as a major voice in American choral music. As an ASCAP award-winning composer and Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, Gilpin understands both the artistic and pedagogical demands of the rehearsal room.
Beyond the concert hall, Gilpin's creative reach extends into film scoring (he wrote the award-winning score for "Rosie's Rescue") and collaborative projects with renowned singers. His engagement with the choral world remains active and multifaceted, combining his roles as conductor, composer, and educator with a commitment to making music accessible and meaningful for singers at every level.
Why we love this
Gilpin's setting captures the emotional arc of Johnson's poem without oversimplifying it. The piece opens intimately, then builds with genuine momentum through those lightly syncopated phrases, creating a natural trajectory that keeps singers engaged and audiences invested. It's the kind of concert opener that reminds everyone in the room why they came to hear choir music.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like a conversation becoming a celebration. It begins quietly introspective, with layered voices creating a sense of intimacy and introspection. As syncopated rhythms move through the ensemble, the energy lifts gradually, building toward a joyful affirmation of why we gather to sing together.
Who it's for
Mixed choirs seeking meaningful repertoire that explores identity, resilience, and the power of music itself. This works equally well for concert settings and festival contexts where you want to program something both emotionally resonant and stylistically accessible.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening entrances as if the voices are discovering each other in darkness; each entrance should feel like a gentle realization rather than a determined entrance.
- Let the syncopated phrases breathe as they pass between voice parts. Resist the urge to smooth over the rhythmic interest; that's where the piece's energy lives.
- Emphasize the "music is all around me" refrain with textural clarity. The message lands strongest when each voice can be heard distinctly in that moment.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in rhythmic confidence during rehearsals, but consider performances with piano once your ensemble knows the piece well.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an intentional tone and create an immediate emotional connection with your audience. Its moderate length and accessible voicing make it an ideal pairing with longer works, or it can anchor a thematic program exploring music, community, or resilience.
Skills your students will build
- Layered entrances and staggered voice entries
- Syncopated rhythmic patterns and their execution in mixed meters
- Textural clarity when singing with multiple simultaneous lines
- Dynamic shaping and narrative arc across a complete piece
- Ensemble blend while maintaining individual voice independence