When I first read James Weldon Johnson’s “The Gift to Sing,” I was struck by its quiet power and timeless resonance. Even in life’s most difficult moments, music can lift the spirit, offer clarity, and rekindle hope, and that has certainly been true in my life.

Johnson’s words are both intimate and expansive, and this setting begins with a soloist to capture the personal expression of this text. As the poem unfolds, the music grows more expansive and open as sweet dissonances and soaring melodic lines capture the triumphant nature of this text.

In composing this work, my hope was to honor Johnson’s spirit while creating space for singers and listeners alike to reflect on the sacred connection between music and the human soul. “The Gift to Sing” reminds us that in our most human moments, especially in sorrow, we are not alone. We have song, and in song, we find spirit.