Lift Me Up!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Beck writes gospel spirituals that teach authentic style without requiring your singers to already know the idiom. The notated solos are crafted to sound like improvisation, which means your ensemble learns how to shape phrasing and inflection even while reading from the page—and if your singers want to venture beyond the notes, the piece invites that exploration. It's a vehicle for discovering what gospel singing actually sounds like in your choir's voice.

Uplifting and energized, with the swagger of a spiritual rooted in real gospel tradition. The piece has momentum and joy, built on a foundation of accessible harmony that lets singers focus on the character and style rather than fighting the notes. It feels contemporary and alive, not antiquated.

Choirs at the high school, college, and adult levels who want to expand their stylistic range and sing authentic gospel spirituals. Directors looking for a piece that teaches gospel sound and phrasing through the score itself will find this especially useful; it works for choirs with strong gospel traditions and those just beginning to explore the genre.

• Spend rehearsal time on the solo passages, treating them as small-group moments rather than featured performers. When soloists hear these lines as flexible, vocally expressive interpretations rather than rigid notation, the piece breathes authentically.
• Experiment with the recorded accompaniment early so your choir can feel the groove and rhythmic pocket of the piece. Gospel style depends on locking into that rhythmic foundation.
• Work the movement and staging cues intentionally in rehearsal. Gospel music and physical expression belong together; blocking should feel organic to the style, not tacked on.
• Encourage soloists to listen to gospel recordings if improvisation appeals to them. This piece opens that door, and reference recordings will deepen their understanding of what's possible.

This is an ideal closer for a concert, especially one featuring spirituals or sacred music. It also works as a contrast piece in a diverse program—position it after something lyrical or classical to show your choir's stylistic versatility. Consider programming it in the spring when concert themes often turn toward celebration and renewal.

• Singing with gospel phrasing and rhythmic inflection
• Interpreting notated solos as semi-improvisational lines
• Locking into a groove and maintaining ensemble rhythm within a gospel style
• Coordinating movement with singing
• Understanding call-and-response and solo-ensemble interplay