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IV. The Resolve physical wounds but also for deeper emotional and spir-
Like the second movement, “The Resolve” is scored itual pain. The overall message is that, despite struggle
for SATB choir with divisi, chamber singers, soloist, and and hardship, healing can be found in the holy spirit
cello. The movement features an introduction and a and the support of others. Geter notes, “I can’t think of
coda, with the majority of the movement made up of any other spiritual that…talks about the trajectory of
the melodies from “There is a Balm in Gilead.” The going from fear and despair to hope…. There’s some-
spiritual is set in the traditional verse-refrain form, be- thing that’s going to help soothe your soul.” 12
ginning with the refrain, with a repeat of the refrain Tindley’s hymn text includes four verses, each with
after the second verse. Geter sets the refrain of “By and the same refrain. Only the refrain text and tune are
By” in the transitional section before the coda (Table 5 used in this work. Geter changes Tindley’s second line
on the next page). from “All the saints of God are gathered home” to “All
The text of “There is a Balm in Gilead” has numer- of us are here together as one,” which allows the mes-
ous references to healing. This healing is not just for sage in the hymn to be universal. In “By and By,” the
CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2025 Volume 66 Number 4 75

