A Dream Within a Dream: SATB Choral Octavo
Words based on the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0006625
$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. Now available for S.A.T.B.
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Additional Details
Series:
Lawson-Gould
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006625
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has composed over 100 choral works while serving as Director of Choirs at Rosemead High School in California, where she has taught since 2004. Her formal training spans piano performance, composition, and music education; she holds degrees from Biola University, UC Santa Barbara, and California State University, Northridge.
Beyond her work in the classroom and as a published composer, Gray remains an active performer and musician. She brings her diverse musical background and deep understanding of choral pedagogy to every piece she writes.
Why we love this
Gray's gift for matching musical gesture to poetic meaning shines throughout this setting. The elegance of her melody and the expressive piano writing create a work that rewards careful preparation and reveals new colors with each rehearsal, making it equally compelling for concert audiences and adjudicators.
What to expect
The work draws listeners into a dreamlike space where Gray's elegant melody floats above a piano accompaniment that shifts between delicate and haunting. The marriage of Poe's introspective text with the choral writing creates an intimate, contemplative soundworld that lingers after the final notes fade.
Who it's for
This piece suits high school and collegiate choirs with solid musicianship and the ability to blend across voice parts. Singers should be comfortable with sustained lyricism and expressive singing that requires attention to both ensemble balance and individual vocal beauty.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody between sections; the piano accompaniment should support rather than overshadow the vocal line, even in moments where the accompaniment becomes hauntingly expressive.
- Give attention to text declamation across all four voice parts. Since the piece is rooted in Poe's poetry, clarity of language serves the emotional arc.
- Shape phrases through dynamic contours rather than abrupt changes. The beauty of this work emerges from sustained, thoughtful vocal phrasing.
How to use it
This octavo works beautifully as a centerpiece for a concert program exploring art song, poetry, and voice. Its depth and musicality make it an excellent choice for festival or contest programs where you want to showcase refined choral artistry.
Skills your students will build
- Blending sustained vowels across SATB voicing
- Interpreting poetic text through musical phrasing
- Responding to expressive piano accompaniment without losing ensemble unity
- Maintaining intonation in slower, lyrical passages