Call Me Friend: SSA Choral Octavo
Words by Edgar Guest and William Shakespeare, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0005534
$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-0005534
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray earned degrees in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University and a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara. She holds a California Single Subject Music Credential from California State University, Northridge. Since 2004, she has served as Director of Choirs at Rosemead High School, where she also teaches piano.
Gray has published over 100 choral compositions, establishing herself as a prolific voice in contemporary choral writing. Beyond her work in composition and education, she is an active performer and maintains a deep engagement with music in all its forms. She shares her life with her husband Douglas, with whom she enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, and cycling.
Why we love this
Gray's pairing of Edgar Guest and Shakespeare creates genuine emotional weight without sentimentality, and the text lands differently for each singer depending on their own friendships. The optional obbligato opens a door to creative casting and chamber-like intimacy, allowing you to feature a solo instrumentalist or keep the arrangement entirely vocal depending on your ensemble's strengths.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like a quiet conversation between friends, intimate and unhurried. Warm harmonies and modest ranges invite singers to connect with Guest's and Shakespeare's meditations on loyalty and companionship, while the optional instrumental line adds a layer of gentle accompaniment or commentary.
Who it's for
This octavo suits SSA choirs of intermediate ability and above who are ready to explore reflective, text-driven repertoire. It works equally well for concert programming and festival settings, and it appeals to singers who care about what they're singing about.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the subtle tempo changes as emotional punctuation rather than technical shifts; let them breathe naturally out of the text's meaning and the singers' understanding of what friendship means to them personally.
- Attend closely to the dynamic markings as indicators of vulnerability; these soft moments are where the piece lives, and they require as much focus and support from the ensemble as any forte passage.
- If using the optional obbligato, rehearse it separately at first so your C-instrument soloist feels secure, then layer it in gradually to find the balance between accompaniment and commentary.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a concert focused on relationships or human connection, or use it to open a set of contrasting pieces. Its reflective tone and modest length make it an effective festival entry that showcases musical maturity without demanding a large ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with emotional nuance and intentionality
- Responding to subtle dynamic and tempo markings
- Blending in three-part harmony with varied vowel colors
- Coordinating with optional instrumental soloists
- Connecting text meaning to musical interpretation