Away from the Roll of the Sea Cover Image

Away from the Roll of the Sea: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.60 USD

Away from the Roll of the Sea: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: Away from the Roll of the Sea: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-VEI1110
Price: 2.60 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Alister MacGillivray

Item: 00-VEI1110

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Series: The Elmer Iseler Choral Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 029156962017

SKU: 00-VEI1110

More about this title

About the Composer: Alister MacGillivray

Alister MacGillivray is a Canadian composer and musician deeply rooted in the folk traditions of Nova Scotia. His compositional voice blends classical choral writing with the lyrical sensibilities of maritime culture, creating works that feel both contemporary and timeless.

MacGillivray's pieces for choir often draw inspiration from Atlantic Canadian poetry and landscape, translating regional storytelling into music that resonates across ensemble levels. His work appears regularly in festivals and concert programs throughout Canada and beyond, earning him recognition as a distinctive voice in choral composition.

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Why we love this

MacGillivray captures something genuinely maritime in this piece without resorting to nautical clichés. The text painting feels organic, and the harmonic language keeps singers engaged without overshooting your choir's technical ceiling. It's the kind of secular work that leaves audiences moved rather than entertained.

What to expect

There's a restless quality here, a sense of movement and distance. The harmonic palette evokes salt air and gray water, but the writing never becomes bleak. Instead, it suggests longing tinged with acceptance, the particular emotional landscape of someone watching the ocean from shore.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced SATB choirs with secure sight-reading skills and some exposure to contemporary harmonic language. This octavo works equally well for community choruses, college ensembles, and competitive festival programs.

How to get the most out of it

Allow the text to shape your phrasing rather than imposing strict bar-to-bar divisions. MacGillivray writes in the rhythm of speech and sea, so singers should breathe where the language naturally breaks.
Balance transparency in the upper voices with warmth in the lower foundation. This arrangement works best when each voice part retains color and independence.
Consider the dramatic arc across all 16 pages. The piece builds tension and release; mark those turning points in rehearsal so the ensemble recognizes the journey they're taking the audience on.
Don't oversell the imagery. Let the harmony do the heavy lifting while singers focus on clean vowels and honest communication of the text.

How to use it

Pair this with other Canadian composers or poets for a regional focus concert, or use it as a centerpiece for a program exploring themes of place and belonging. The 16-page length makes it a substantial anchor piece without monopolizing your concert time.