The Music-Makers: SAB Choral Octavo
Words by Arthur O'Shaughnessy, music and additional words by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0005711
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A driving rhythmic accompaniment and an inspiring text based on Arthur O'Shaughnessy's "Ode" create a thrilling piece to both sing and hear. Accessible harmonies make teaching parts a snap, while robust poetry and captivating choral syncopations suggest a concert opener!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005711
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has been directing choirs and teaching piano at Rosemead High School since 2004, where she shapes the musical lives of young singers across multiple ensembles. Her compositional output exceeds 100 published works, grounded in a formal education 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.
Beyond the rehearsal room, Gray maintains an active life as a performer and traveler, sharing her passions for music, cycling, and reading with her husband Douglas. Her work as both educator and composer reflects a deep commitment to creating accessible yet artistically substantial choral literature for students.
Why we love this
Gray writes with genuine understanding of what SAB choirs can accomplish, balancing accessibility with musical ambition. The syncopated rhythms and literary substance here feel designed specifically for the energy and capability of young mixed ensembles, making it a smart choice for directors seeking something that sounds and sings with real character without compromising teachability.
What to expect
The piece radiates forward momentum through its rhythmic drive and layered syncopations, creating an almost kinetic energy that lifts the inspiring words of the text. There's accessibility in the harmonies alongside real substance in the poetic content, so singers feel both confident and challenged at once.
Who it's for
SAB choirs in grades 9-12 who are ready for rhythmic sophistication and meaningful text but don't yet need four or five vocal lines. This works equally well for treble or mixed ensembles with strong alto presence and confident sopranos who can carry a melody through syncopated textures.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock in the driving rhythmic accompaniment before releasing singers into their parts; the propulsive energy depends on percussive clarity in how chords land together.
- Shape the text with intention. O'Shaughnessy's language carries weight, so encourage singers to inhabit the meaning rather than simply articulate syllables.
- Highlight the syncopations by having singers feel where the harmonic rhythm sits within the beat, not against it. This clarity will make complex rhythms feel intentional rather than accidental.
- Consider your dynamic arc across the full 12 pages; this piece rewards building momentum, so plan where intensity peaks rather than letting it plateau.
How to use it
Open a concert with this. The driving accompaniment and theatrical quality command attention from the first phrase, and the relatively quick rehearsal timeline (thanks to logical part writing) means you can program it confidently even mid-season. It pairs well alongside other contemporary secular works that value literary substance.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and sustaining syncopated rhythmic patterns across SAB texture
- Balancing melody and harmony when the accompaniment figure dominates
- Interpreting poetic text and translating that meaning into vocal expression
- Singing with rhythmic precision while maintaining lyrical phrasing