A Festive Gloria: SAB Choral Octavo

Name: A Festive Gloria: SAB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-33052
Price: 1.75 USD
Availability: InStock

By Ruth Morris Gray

Item: 00-33052

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This dramatic choral for SAB choirs showcases three equally exciting, challenging, and achievable voice parts. Percussive phrases and varied sections will make for an impressive concert or adjudication selection. Accompaniment included on PianoTrax 2 CD (00-31290).

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081359601

SKU: 00-33052

More about this title

About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray brings decades of classroom experience to her compositional work. Since 2004, she has directed choirs at Rosemead High School in California while maintaining an active schedule as a pianist and composer. Her formal training spans performance and composition, with degrees from Biola University, UC Santa Barbara, and credentials from California State University, Northridge.

With over 100 published choral works to her name, Gray has established herself as a prolific voice in school choral music. Her compositions balance technical ambition with practical classroom needs, drawing on her firsthand understanding of what student singers can achieve. Beyond music, she is an avid traveler, reader, and cyclist.

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Why we love this

Gray writes SAB music that refuses to condescend. All three voice parts carry real melodic and rhythmic substance, which means your singers stay engaged throughout rehearsal and performance. The percussive elements and sectional variety give this piece distinctive character, making it stand out on adjudication or concert programs without requiring an oversized ensemble.

What to expect

A festive, energized take on traditional sacred material. The percussive language keeps the piece moving forward while varied sectional writing allows moments of lyricism to land with impact. Singing it feels purposeful and alive.

Who it's for

SAB choirs with singers who can handle rhythmic precision and part independence. This works equally well for high school groups preparing for festival adjudication or community choirs seeking a sacred piece with contemporary energy and character.

How to get the most out of it

Isolate the percussive phrases in sectional rehearsals. Have the section that carries the rhythm work independently first, then layer in the other parts so the texture lands cleanly.
Balance the varied sections by identifying their individual character during early rehearsals. Mark dynamic shifts and tempo relationships in the score so singers understand how each section connects to the larger arc.
Use the PianoTrax 2 accompaniment to establish harmonic security before pulling back to lighter accompaniment or a cappella passages in performance.
Attend to diction during rhythmically active moments. Work the text and rhythm together rather than separately; this locks the percussive quality into place.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a holiday concert or spring festival appearance where you want a sacred work that commands attention. Its dramatic arc and varied textures create strong contrast if you pair it with a gentler piece on either side.