Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow (arr. Kirby Shaw): TTBB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement opens this spiritual to mixed male voices while honoring its essential character. The nine-page setting gives singers enough musical substance to develop ensemble sound without overwhelming rehearsal time, and the flexibility of voicing (TB through TTBB) means you can adjust for your singers' needs. A spiritual this well-crafted rewards the attention you invest in it.

Urgent and hopeful. The text calls listeners to action while the melody carries the quiet certainty of faith. There's a driving quality to this spiritual that feels forward-looking, even defiant, wrapped in the warmth of vocal harmony.

Male voice choirs and mixed ensembles with strong male sections looking for spirituals that fit their instrumentation. It works equally well for holiday programming, concert repertoire building, or repertoire that honors the African American choral tradition. High school through professional choirs will find it musically substantial.

• Build the piece from unison or two-part sections outward. Shaw likely structured the arrangement to establish textural variety, so discover where fuller voicing enters and make those moments feel earned rather than automatic.
• Shape long phrases by thinking of the text's meaning, not just the notation. Spirituals ask singers to communicate conviction, so encourage them to breathe where the message naturally pauses.
• Balance solo passages with ensemble singing. If Shaw includes featured sections, use them to spotlight individual singers and build anticipation for the full ensemble return.
• Treat the accompaniment as a guide, not a cage. Even if learning with recorded backing, work toward independence so your singers can own the piece's emotional arc.

Pair it with other spirituals in a dedicated set, or position it as a concert centerpiece that shifts the emotional tone of your program. Its nine pages fit comfortably in longer concert formats, and the Christmas designation suggests it works in holiday programming alongside secular and sacred selections. Consider programming it where you want the audience to feel both the joy and the substance of the music.

• Singing with intent and textual clarity in a narrative spiritual
• Negotiating multiple voicing options (TB, TTB, TBB, TTBB) within a single piece
• Blending in male voice or mixed ensembles without loss of individual tone
• Sustaining longer phrases with proper breath management
• Interpreting historically rooted music with authenticity and respect