So Set Its Sun in Thee: SATB Choral Octavo
Words by Emily Dickinson, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0001841
$1.85
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
As this piece develops, gorgeous lines ebb, flow, and entwine, creating a lush tapestry of sound. Mature choirs will embrace the largely polyphonic texture and savor the meaningful poetry. A striking concert selection that is also worthy of adjudication and contest performances.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001841
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has shaped choral music education in Southern California for over two decades as Director of Choirs at Rosemead High School, where she has taught since 2004. Her compositional output exceeds 100 published works, grounded in formal training that includes a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University and a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara.
Gray's work reflects both her performance background and her deep engagement with choral pedagogy. Beyond the classroom and rehearsal hall, she remains an active musician and composer whose creative life extends to travel, swimming, reading, and cycling with her husband.
Why we love this
The polyphonic architecture here demands serious musical maturity from your singers while rewarding that investment with genuinely moving results. Gray's command of texture and her partnership with meaningful poetry create a piece that stands equally well in a concert setting and under adjudication, making it a rare find that checks multiple programming boxes without compromise.
What to expect
The music unfolds like silk ribbons weaving through space, each voice line distinct yet integral to a larger whole. There's an intimacy to the polyphonic writing that invites listeners to discover new details with each hearing, while the overall effect builds into something luminous and complete.
Who it's for
This octavo is written for choirs with solid vocal technique and experience reading complex textures. Mature ensembles comfortable with polyphony and capable of sustaining nuanced phrase work will find this piece both challenging and deeply rewarding.
How to get the most out of it
- Spend rehearsal time mapping the polyphonic lines so each voice understands not just its own part but how it interlocks with others. This clarity prevents the texture from becoming muddy even as voices overlap.
- Attend carefully to the poetry and its arc. The musical gestures should reflect the emotional weight of the text, which guides phrasing and dynamic shape across the longer phrases.
- Balance soprano and alto lines with special care during sections where they carry the primary melodic material. Both parts are equally essential to the overall tapestry.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a concert devoted to literary settings or contemporary secular choral works. Its sophistication and contest-ready polish also make it a compelling choice for festival or adjudication programs where you want to showcase your ensemble's musicianship and depth.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and balancing complex polyphonic textures
- Maintaining independent lines while listening to surrounding voices
- Interpreting poetic text as a guide to musical phrasing and expression
- Sustaining longer phrases with consistent tone and breath support