Up To The Mountain (MLK Song): Choral Instrumental Pak
By Patty Griffin / As performed by Kelly Clarkson / Arranged by Mac Huff
Item: 35-PK00122717
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Description
This song by folksinger Patty Griffin was written in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and vividly depicts the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech given the day before his assassination. Performed most recently by Kelly Clarkson at the "Idol Gives Back" 2006 charity broadcast, the song has continued to inspire listeners with its powerful message and gospel-infused sonorities.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00122717
More about this title
About the Composer: Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin is a singer-songwriter whose folk and Americana idiom carries deep emotional resonance and social consciousness. Her compositions often explore themes of faith, loss, and human dignity, drawing on gospel traditions and lyrical storytelling to create work that resonates across musical and cultural boundaries.
Why we love this
Mac Huff's arrangement transforms this contemporary folk song into a moving choral moment that honors King's legacy without sentimentality. The gospel-rooted harmonies and accessible voicing make it work equally well for concerts, assemblies, or community events where you need substance alongside accessibility.
What to expect
The piece carries both urgency and reflection. Gospel harmonies blend with contemporary pop sensibilities to create something that honors spiritual tradition while speaking directly to modern listeners. You hear both the weight of history and a voice that refuses to look away from its implications.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choirs at the intermediate level and above who are ready to engage contemporary material with historical and social meaning. It works equally well in high school, college, and adult community settings where performers can bring maturity to both the musical and textual content.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the spiritual quality of the harmonic movement; the gospel foundation should shape your phrasing and vibrato choices throughout.
- Pay attention to the relationship between your choir and the rhythm section. This arrangement lives in the pocket created by groove and vocal line working together.
- Let dynamics serve the lyrical arc rather than simply following notation. The text's power depends on singers understanding when to pull back and when to lean in.
- Work the recorded accompaniment as your rehearsal partner early on. Locking the choir's rhythmic precision to the groove requires repeated listening and singing alongside.
How to use it
Consider programming this in February during Black History Month observances, or anchor it into a concert exploring social justice themes alongside spirituals and protest songs. The emotional intensity makes it effective as a program closer when paired with thoughtful repertoire that builds toward it.
Skills your students will build
- Gospel harmony voicing and chord quality in a contemporary context
- Rhythmic precision within a groove-based accompaniment
- Lyrical interpretation of text with historical and spiritual weight
- Blend and balance when navigating harmonic movement at moderate tempos