E Ala E Cover Image

E Ala E: TBB, <i>a cappella</i> Choral Octavo

$1.80 USD
$1.80 USD
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E Ala E Cover Image
E Ala E: TBB, a cappella Choral Octavo

E Ala E: TBB, a cappella Choral Octavo

(Arise)

Words from a Hawaiian Chant by Pualani Kanake'ole Kanahele, music by Ruth Morris Gray

Item: 00-38052
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Description
This nature-inspired poem celebrates our connection to the rising sun, incorporating equal parts English and Hawaiian text. Rhythmic and harmonic motives sound authentic throughout. Highly creative.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081425245
SKU: 00-38052
Instrumentation: Opt. Percussion

More about this title

About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray has directed choirs at Rosemead High School in California since 2004, where she also teaches piano. Her catalog of over 100 published choral compositions reflects her dual training in piano performance and composition from Biola University, paired with graduate study in music composition at UC Santa Barbara.

Gray holds a California Single Subject Music Credential and balances her work as composer, director, and performer with travel, swimming, reading, and cycling. Her prolific output and classroom experience inform compositions that balance accessibility with musical substance.

Why we love this

This piece captures something genuine: the language choices (English and Hawaiian) feel integrated into the musical fabric rather than ornamental. Gray's rhythmic and harmonic vocabulary authentically reflects the text without resorting to surface-level exoticism, making it rewarding for treble choirs seeking repertoire that expands their cultural and musical vocabulary.

What to expect

The piece radiates warmth and forward motion, capturing that threshold moment when darkness gives way to light. Rhythmic motives create momentum and energy while the harmonic language grounds the text in something rooted and authentic, neither precious nor overly simplified.

Who it's for

This piece works for treble choirs (TB, TTB, or TBB voicings) with solid rhythmic reading skills and comfort navigating non-traditional harmonic language. It appeals to programs seeking secular contemporary repertoire that honors multicultural perspectives without requiring extensive cultural background knowledge.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the English and Hawaiian text equally in rehearsal. Neither language should feel secondary; learn pronunciations carefully and drill them with the same attention you'd give to any foreign language passage.
  • The optional percussion parts invite creative arrangement choices. Even if you keep the piece a cappella for certain performances, experiment with simple hand percussion in rehearsal to discover how the rhythmic motives land.
  • Shape phrases around the sunrise imagery. Use the text's natural arc to guide dynamic and tonal choices rather than treating rhythmic sections as mere technical exercises.

How to use it

Program this alongside other contemporary works that explore cultural exchange or natural imagery, or use it to open a concert dedicated to sunrise, renewal, or global perspectives. Its 12 pages and moderate technical demands make it suitable for spring festivals or end-of-year celebrations.

Skills your students will build

  • Sight-reading rhythmic motives in non-traditional meters and syncopations
  • Pronunciation and interpretation of Hawaiian text
  • Balancing harmonic independence within a cappella texture
  • Shaping musical phrases through textual imagery rather than conventional phrasing marks

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