The Hymn! — A Modern American Montage
The Hymn! brings together My Country, ’Tis of Thee, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Lift Every Voice and Sing in a powerful contemporary a cappella arrangement by Stacey V. Gibbs.
The Hymn! stitches patriotism into the fabric of our hearts and cultivates the love and compassion that bind us together as a nation.
An American Mosaic
The Hymn! is a contemporary a cappella work by composer and arranger Stacey V. Gibbs that artfully unites three iconic American songs: My Country, ’Tis of Thee, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Beyond the Medley
Rather than a simple medley, Gibbs crafts an epic montage that explores patriotism as deep love and steadfast support for one’s homeland. Each melody brings its own history and cultural perspective, and their weaving together honors those distinct voices while celebrating unity in diversity.
Beautifully crafted for choirs, with a message that feels important right now.
Stacey V. Gibbs’s The Hymn! transforms familiar patriotic ground into new territory. The a cappella setting brings together My Country, ’Tis of Thee, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Lift Every Voice and Sing — not as separate verses, but as intertwined lines in a single musical dialogue. Each melody enters with its own story: one of revolution, one of abolition, one of Black liberation. Gibbs lets those perspectives stand, then guides them toward shared resolve. A steady 12/8 groove carries the work, anchored by one snare drum that becomes a moral metronome, a quiet call to lead with justice and peace. His choral craft is both generous and exacting: divisi textures that bloom, rhythms that lift, and moments of stillness that let the text speak.
Written for SATB divisi a cappella and snare, The Hymn! meets advanced high school ensembles where they are and gives professional choirs room to soar.
Accessible and Resounding
The piece moves with a compelling 12/8 pulse, grounded by a single snare drum that symbolizes the “drum major for justice and peace” throughout. With skilled, expressive choral writing and a timely, resonant message, The Hymn! is accessible to ensembles from advanced high school through professional level.
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Music that honors patriotism and embraces love and compassion becomes a harmonious reminder of our shared humanity and the strength we find in unity.
The Hymn! — A Modern American Montage
The Hymn! brings together My Country, ’Tis of Thee, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Lift Every Voice and Sing in a powerful contemporary a cappella arrangement by Stacey V. Gibbs.
