Kirby Shaw's influence extends across six continents, where his teaching combines rigorous musicianship with an infectious energy that keeps choirs engaged and motivated. He holds degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. His career spans public school teaching in Mt. Shasta, foundational work directing acclaimed vocal jazz ensembles at College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and current leadership of the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University.
With more than 2,500 choral arrangements and compositions in print that have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide, Shaw has established himself as one of the most prolific voices in choral music today. His collaborations with jazz luminaries including Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks inform his sophisticated approach to harmony and rhythm. Recent commissions include work for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and his creative partnership with his wife Markita produced the original musical Scroogical, based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Numerous ASCAP awards recognize his compositional achievements.
Why we love this
Shaw's arrangement honors the spiritual simplicity of this traditional song while layering in the harmonic sophistication and textural interest that make it engaging for developing choirs. The SSA voicing opens this repertoire to wider ensemble configurations, and Shaw's jazz-informed sensibility brings warmth and contemporary resonance to a timeless message. The result feels both reverent and accessible, giving singers ownership of the material while maintaining artistic substance.
What to expect
Uplifting and grounded, this arrangement radiates quiet assurance. The text carries an innate hopefulness that Shaw's harmonies deepen rather than diminish, creating moments of gentle joy that linger after the final chord.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits choirs ranging from developing high school ensembles to community and church groups seeking accessible repertoire with substance. The SSA voicing makes it particularly valuable for treble-heavy programs or those introducing three-part writing. Its spiritual foundation and concert versatility appeal to directors programming sacred or festival contexts.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the melodic line across all three parts so the arrangement's inner harmony doesn't mask the tune. This requires intentional sectional work where soprano and alto lines are heard distinctly but blend seamlessly.
Allow the spiritual's call-and-response character to breathe; resist rushing through phrase endings. The reflective quality of the text deserves space and intention.
Explore dynamic contrast between verses to maintain engagement over the 13-page score. Subtle shifts in volume can deepen the emotional arc without requiring dramatic reinterpretation.
How to use it
Pair this with other spirituals for a concert section that explores the genre's emotional range, or use it as a standalone centerpiece in a sacred or inspirational program. Its length and accessibility make it suitable for festivals and community performances where you need music that connects with audiences immediately while demonstrating your choir's musicality.
Skills your students will build
Three-part SSA voicing and harmonic independence
Spiritual style conventions and historical context
Legit blend and vowel consistency across divisi passages
Expressive control in intimate, reverent repertoire
Call-and-response phrasing and rhythmic precision
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