Sing with the Angels: SATB Choral Octavo
Words and music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0003675
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This high-energy original Christmas spiritual is not to be missed! A driving gospel chorus alternates with contrasting verses, then a quote from "Angels We Have Heard on High" introduces a lively, and briefly a cappella, refrain. Pair with the optional SoundTrax CD and choreography from the Step One! DVD and at alfred.com/video.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003675
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray brings deep roots in both classical training and choral pedagogy to her prolific composition practice. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University, then pursued advanced study in composition at UC Santa Barbara, earning her Master of Arts degree. Her California Single Subject Music Credential from Cal State Northridge formalized her commitment to music education.
Since 2004, Gray has served as Director of Choirs at Rosemead High School in California, where she teaches piano and directs the choir program. Her catalog of over 100 published choral compositions reflects her intimate understanding of what works in the rehearsal room and on the stage. Beyond the page, she is an active performer and traveler who shares her passions for swimming, reading, and cycling with her husband, Douglas.
Why we love this
Gray writes choral music with real rhythmic momentum and structural smarts. This piece trades predictability for genuine surprise; the dialogue between the gospel chorus and contrasting verses keeps singers engaged, while the a cappella moment forces your ensemble to truly own their sound. The "Angels We Have Heard on High" quote feels earned, not pasted on, and gives your choir an instant win when they nail the shift in texture.
What to expect
High-octane and joyful, with a spiritual edge that keeps it from becoming generic holiday fare. The piece pulses with the confidence of a gospel-rooted arrangement while maintaining enough compositional craft to reward careful rehearsal. When the a cappella moment lands, your singers will feel both vulnerable and powerful.
Who it's for
Directors programming a Christmas concert who want energy and sophistication in the same piece. Your SATB choir needs material that challenges blend and rhythmic precision while also feeling celebratory and accessible to audiences. This works equally well for high school choirs, church programs, and community ensembles.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the groove early. The driving gospel chorus needs forward motion from rehearsal one; lock the rhythm section first, then layer the vocal lines.
- Shape the contrast between chorus and verses deliberately. Use dynamics and articulation to make the shift feel like a genuine change of scenery, not just a key change.
- Prepare the a cappella refrain with trust. Strip away accompaniment in rehearsal before you perform it so singers develop internal security and blend without a safety net.
- Let the "Angels We Have Heard on High" quote breathe. This is your moment of recognition; resist the urge to rush into it.
How to use it
Place this in the second half of a Christmas concert where your choir has warmed up and can handle the rhythmic demands. It pairs well alongside more introspective sacred music; the contrast highlights both the energy here and the reverence elsewhere on your program. The optional choreography and recorded accompaniment make it a complete package if you want to maximize production value.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated gospel rhythms
- Blending and tuning in a cappella passages
- Responding to sudden textural shifts (accompanied to unaccompanied)
- Balancing lyrical sensitivity with driven energy within a single piece