Call Me Friend: SATB Choral Octavo
Words by Edgar Guest and William Shakespeare, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0005532
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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
SKU:
00-PO-0005532
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has been Director of Choirs at Rosemead High School since 2004, where she also teaches piano. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University, a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara, and earned her California Single Subject Music Credential at California State University, Northridge.
With over 100 published choral compositions to her name, Gray brings deep experience in writing for voices across all levels and contexts. Beyond her work as composer and director, she is an active performer and educator who finds inspiration in travel, reading, swimming, and cycling.
Why we love this
Gray's text selection here is genuinely thoughtful. Pairing Edgar Guest's accessible reflection on friendship with Shakespeare creates sophistication without pretension, and your singers will connect immediately to the message. The optional obbligato is a genuine compositional choice that enriches the sound without demanding it, giving you flexibility based on your ensemble's instrumentation and confidence level.
What to expect
Warm and introspective, this piece settles into the listener like a quiet conversation about what matters most. The interplay between the two texts creates a gentle tension between Guest's humble contentment and Shakespeare's timeless wisdom, supported by music that breathes with sensitivity and care.
Who it's for
This octavo works beautifully for any SATB choir seeking meaningful repertoire with strong textual grounding. It's accessible enough for high school ensembles while offering the musical and emotional depth that keeps singers engaged during rehearsal and performance.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the tempo changes by rehearsing them deliberately; they're not arbitrary but integral to the emotional arc. Mark them clearly in all parts before ensemble rehearsals begin.
- The dynamic markings carry the text forward. Spend time on how dynamics shape phrasing, especially in the reflective passages where a soft, sustained approach serves the poetry better than mere volume reduction.
- If you use the optional obbligato, begin rehearsals with voices alone to establish security, then layer the instrument carefully. The obbligato should complement, not compete.
- Encourage singers to think about what "call me friend" means personally. That investment will naturally produce more nuanced, expressive singing.
How to use it
Program this as a concert closer or a reflective anchor in a thematic set about relationships and values. Its lyrical warmth makes it an ideal pairing before or after more energetic works, and the optional instrumentation gives you options for a special performance or a festive program context.
Skills your students will build
- Responding to subtle dynamic gradations in shaping musical phrases
- Executing tempo changes with precision and musical intent
- Balancing blend and balance across four voice parts in moderate textures
- Interpreting literary text through vocal expression and phrasing