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Call Me Friend: SATB Choral Octavo

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Call Me Friend Cover Image
Call Me Friend: SATB Choral Octavo

Call Me Friend: SATB Choral Octavo

Words by Edgar Guest and William Shakespeare, music by Ruth Morris Gray

Item: 00-45653
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Description
"I can live my life on earth contented to the end, if but a few shall . . . call me friend." "Success," by "people's poet" Edgar Guest is paired with a few lines from Shakespeare's "Sonnet 50" to create a warm, reflective text on the importance of friendship. Subtle tempo changes and sensitive dynamics encourage expressive singing, and an optional obbligato allows for a C-instrument of your choice.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081513928
SKU: 00-45653

More about this title

About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray has directed choirs at Rosemead High School since 2004, where she also teaches piano. Her compositions span well over 100 published works for various ensembles and occasions, drawing on formal training in both performance and composition.

Gray holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University and a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara. She earned her California Single Subject Music Credential at California State University, Northridge. Beyond her work as composer, director, and performer, she pursues an active life that includes traveling, swimming, reading, and cycling.

Why we love this

Gray writes with genuine warmth and accessibility without sacrificing musical substance. The pairing of Guest's familiar lines with Shakespeare creates a sophisticated yet emotionally direct text that singers connect with immediately, and the optional instrumental obbligato gives you flexibility in performance while adding another layer of color when you need it.

What to expect

Warm and contemplative, with a gentle sincerity that never lapses into sentimentality. The interplay of Guest's conversational wisdom and Shakespeare's poetic touch creates a piece that feels both immediate and timeless, inviting singers to linger on what friendship truly means.

Who it's for

This octavo works well for SATB choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who want material with genuine substance and a reflective character. It suits ensembles seeking a secular piece suitable for both concert performance and festival programming.

How to get the most out of it

  • Attend carefully to the dynamic markings and tempo shifts specified in the score; these shifts are what transform the piece from pleasant to genuinely affecting.
  • If including the optional C-instrument obbligato, have your soloist listen to full rehearsals before their part enters so they absorb the harmonic context and can adjust intonation and balance accordingly.
  • Balance the upper voices against the lower voices in the opening; this piece asks for transparency rather than weight, and letting altos and tenors/basses sit too far back can obscure the text and harmonic movement.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece in a thematic concert about values, community, or human connection; it sits naturally alongside other literary-based works or as a reflective moment in a mixed-repertoire concert. Its 12-page length and moderate difficulty make it accessible for festivals and competitions where you want distinctive material without excessive rehearsal demands.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing through subtle tempo and dynamic shifts while maintaining phrase shape
  • Balancing harmony across four parts with sensitivity to vowel placement and blend
  • Interpreting poetic text with emotional authenticity
  • Coordinating with an optional instrumental soloist when included

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