A Dream Within a Dream: SSA Choral Octavo
Words based on the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0000949
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Ruth Morris Gray's ability to use voices to elevate and enhance the meaning of a text is masterful. Based on the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, this beautiful choral work features an elegant melody supported by a hauntingly expressive piano accompaniment. Equally well-suited for concert or contest programs, this stunning piece encourages top-tier musicality.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Dream Within a Dream: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Lawson-Gould
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000949
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has directed choirs at Rosemead High School in Rosemead, California since 2004, where she also teaches piano. Her compositional output spans over 100 published works for choral ensembles, reflecting a deep engagement with both vocal writing and the marriage of text to music.
Gray holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University and earned her Master of Arts in Music Composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She completed her California Single Subject Music Credential at California State University, Northridge. Beyond her work in music education and composition, she is an active performer and finds creative renewal through travel, reading, swimming, and cycling.
Why we love this
Gray's compositional voice excels at making poetic texts sing without overshadowing them. The hauntingly expressive piano accompaniment here does essential work, creating atmospheric depth that enhances rather than competes with the vocal line, making this piece equally convincing in concert halls and adjudication rooms.
What to expect
Introspective and haunting, with an elegant simplicity that draws listeners inward. The SSA voicing creates a luminous quality, while the piano accompaniment adds shadow and depth, evoking the dreamy, melancholic atmosphere of Poe's poetry.
Who it's for
Advanced high school choirs and college ensembles looking for repertoire that challenges musicianship without demanding virtuosic vocal ranges. This works equally well for groups preparing for competition or concert performance.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melody with careful attention to Poe's language; each phrase should feel like a natural speech contour before becoming musical.
- Balance the SSA voicing so the top line remains audible without forcing; the supporting harmonies should feel like they're flowing beneath rather than around the melody.
- Work closely with your pianist on the expressive qualities of the accompaniment; the piano sets much of the piece's emotional tone and must be heard as an integral voice.
How to use it
Pair this with other art song-style choral works to build a thematic program around poetry and introspection, or use it as a contrasting piece in a mixed concert featuring both contemporary and traditional repertoire. The literary foundation makes it particularly effective for programs exploring connections between poetry and music.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legit singing with expressive phrasing in SSA texture
- Interpretive choices based on poetic meaning and word imagery
- Ensemble balance when supporting a single-line melody
- Collaborative listening with piano accompaniment