The Most Precious Gift Cover Image

The Most Precious Gift: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD
$2.25 USD
Skip to product information
The Most Precious Gift Cover Image
The Most Precious Gift: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

The Most Precious Gift: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Words and music by Ruth Elaine Schram

Level: Moderate

Item: 00-SVM03022
makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$2.25
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

The Most Precious Gift: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

$2.25
View

The Most Precious Gift: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$1.60
View

The Most Precious Gift: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$1.60
View
Description
"It's the faith that we'll remember through December and beyond, what we really need is each other. That's the most precious gift of all." Ruth Elaine Schram once again brings forth a message of the true meaning of the holiday season in a song. The melody lingers and the lyrics are so stirring that it simply reaches in and touches all our hearts.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Most Precious Gift: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Studio PR Catalog
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
UPC: 654979053514
SKU: 00-SVM03022

More about this title

About the Composer: Ruth Elaine Schram

Ruth Elaine Schram is a prolific composer of choral music with a particular gift for writing accessible yet emotionally resonant sacred works. Her compositions have become staples in church choirs and school music programs across North America, prized for their singable melodies, clear harmonic language, and text-setting that honors both poetry and musical line.

Why we love this

Schram cuts through seasonal sentimentality with genuine spiritual substance. The melody stays with singers and audiences long after the final note, and the SAB voicing balances accessibility with enough harmonic interest to keep rehearsals engaging. This is the kind of Christmas piece that strengthens a community choir's repertoire without demanding extensive preparation.

What to expect

The piece carries warmth and quiet conviction rather than bombast. Its melody unfolds naturally, inviting singers to inhabit the text deeply. There's a reflective quality underneath the seasonal setting, as if the song is asking listeners to remember what truly matters.

Who it's for

This octavo suits adult church choirs, school choral programs at the middle school and early high school level, and community choirs looking for Christmas repertoire with substance. It works equally well for singers with limited rehearsal time and those preparing for formal holiday concerts.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the phrase lines with breath marks that feel natural to singers rather than mechanical; let the text rhythm guide your phrasing decisions.
  • Balance the three parts carefully during tutti sections so the soprano line remains audible without the altos and baritones disappearing beneath it.
  • Find a tempo that allows the melody to linger without dragging; a moderate pace gives the lyrics room to land with full emotional weight.
  • Emphasize clean diction on key words that carry the message (faith, remember, each other, gift) so the audience grasps the text's meaning immediately.

How to use it

Open a Christmas concert with this piece to set a contemplative tone before moving to more celebratory material, or use it as a closer to leave audiences in a reflective frame of mind. Its moderate length and accessible voicing make it ideal for a mixed program that includes both sacred and secular holiday music.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing three independent vocal lines in SAB voicing
  • Sustaining musical phrases while maintaining text clarity
  • Reading and performing at a moderate tempo without rushing through emotional moments
  • Understanding how harmonic support shapes melodic expression

You May Also Like