Dies Irae: TTB Choral Octavo
By Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0003264
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Powerful and intense! Angular phrases and percussive attacks add to the drama in this contemporary setting of the day of wrath text. A tour de force for accomplished choirs.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003264
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has directed choirs at Rosemead High School since 2004, where she also teaches piano. Her catalogue includes over 100 published choral works, reflecting decades of engagement with repertoire that serves both educational and artistic needs.
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 in music, she performs, travels, and cycles with her husband, Douglas.
Why we love this
Gray constructs this setting with real architectural precision. Angular phrases and sharp percussive attacks transform a centuries-old text into something genuinely contemporary without sacrificing the weight of the subject matter. For accomplished TTB choirs seeking contest or concert material that demands maturity and technical command, this piece rewards the time invested in its preparation.
What to expect
Angular and propulsive. The music feels modern and deliberate, with sharp angles and percussive gestures that cut through traditional reverence. This is not a setting that melts into the background. It confronts the listener with urgency and intensity.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in the hands of experienced TTB choirs with the technical facility to navigate contemporary harmonic language and rhythmic precision. Directors programming concert or contest repertoire will find an accomplished choir ready for a genuine challenge.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the angular phrases as sculptural elements. Clarity of articulation matters more than legato warmth; precise diction and crisp attacks define the piece's dramatic character.
- Balance the lower voices carefully when they carry melodic weight. With multiple voicings available (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB), ensure your arrangement choice allows each voice to project without drowning out harmonic support.
- Mark the percussive moments in rehearsal so singers understand where the piece demands tension and where it allows breath. Gray uses dynamic contrast deliberately to shape the text.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece in a concert exploring sacred texts through contemporary compositional voices. Its dramatic intensity makes it an especially strong choice for festival competition or a program that juxtaposes classical and modern approaches to liturgical material.
Skills your students will build
- Reading angular melodic lines with unexpected intervals
- Executing precise rhythmic attacks and articulation shifts
- Balancing independent voice lines in contemporary harmonic settings
- Interpreting dynamic contrast to shape dramatic narrative
- Ensemble blend and projection with multiple possible voicings