Get ready for Joy!
Stacey V. Gibbs’ a cappella arrangement of the traditional spiritual Way Over In Beulah Lan’ is an irresistible celebration of hope, freedom, and that borderland of rest just shy of heaven. From the first call to the last ringing chord, it pulls singers and listeners straight into its golden, gospel glow.
“Way Over In Beulah Lan’” brings the spiritual’s promise of freedom and heavenly rest to life with vibrant call-and-response, rich harmonies, and an uplifting energy.
Why Choirs Love It
Stacey V. Gibbs’ a cappella setting of the traditional spiritual “Way Over In Beulah Lan’” features vibrant call-and-response, jazz-inflected harmonies, and dynamic contrasts, earning selections for Paul A. Smith’s choral series and the 2007 ACDA National Honor Choir in Miami.
Built for the Stage!
Gibbs' arrangement delivers pure energy and connection—it has proven to captivate both adjudicators and audiences. It gives choirs room to showcase musicality and spirit, making it a standout for concerts, festivals, and sacred settings.
Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir performing at President Obama's Inaugural Prayer Service, 2013, Washington National Cathedral.
Distinguished Endorsements
Endorsed by Paul A. Smith for his excellent choral series and selected by Bruce Rogers for the 2007 ACDA National Honor Choir in Miami, this arrangement has captivated adjudicators and audiences alike. His setting of “Way Over in Beulah Lan’” was also performed at the 57th Inaugural Service for President Barack Obama. These prestigious selections confirm what many already know: Stacey Gibbs has proven to be one of the best new arrangers of spirituals for a cappella choir.
Performance Impact
Call-and-response sections, driving rhythms, and dynamic contrasts give choirs room to showcase musicality and spirit, making it a standout for concerts, festivals, and sacred settings. Built for the stage, this arrangement delivers pure energy and connection.
Artistry & Accessibility
Gibbs honors the spiritual’s deep roots — a song of liberation and “homesickness” for Beulah Land drawn from Isaiah 62:4 and Pilgrim’s Progress — while wrapping it in lush jazz-inflected harmonies and vibrant a cappella textures. Melodic lines trade between voice parts, layered with rich embellishments, rhythmic hits, and soaring climaxes that evoke walking those “golden streets.” The result is accessible yet sophisticated: a place of abundance where tradition and fresh artistry renew their covenant, and every choir gets to shine.
Gibbs’ arrangement lifts singers into joyful anticipation and wraps audiences in the comfort of Beulah Land — that peaceful borderland of rest, freedom, and hope.
Feel the Spirit Rise
Stacey V. Gibbs’ a cappella arrangement of the traditional spiritual Way Over In Beulah Lan’ is an irresistible celebration of hope, freedom, and that borderland of rest just shy of heaven. From the first call to the last ringing chord, it pulls singers and listeners straight into its golden, gospel glow.