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The Note Within: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

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The Note Within Cover Image
The Note Within: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

The Note Within: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Words by John Kendrick Bangs, music by Ruth Morris Gray

Item: 00-49663
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Description
Choral educators agree, canon singing works! So, we're always on the lookout to expand our repertoire of rounds. Here's a truly unique minor-key canon on a mature (and musical) text with multi-age appeal. Easy to teach and satisfying to sing, it quickly stacks up to sound impressive. Practice or perform with the optional chamber music instrumentation SoundTrax. "I have a song within my heart." 

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

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081567501
SKU: 00-49663

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. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University and a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara, complemented by her California Single Subject Music Credential from Cal State Northridge.

With over 100 published choral compositions to her name, Gray has established herself as a prolific voice in choral music education. Her work balances accessibility with musical substance, making her pieces valuable resources for high school and middle school ensembles.

Why we love this

Canon singing demands precision and independence from singers, and Gray's minor-key setting elevates the form beyond novelty into something genuinely musical. The text carries weight and maturity, which means your singers engage intellectually while mastering the stacking technique, making this far more rewarding than typical rounds.

What to expect

The minor key brings warmth and introspection rather than darkness, and as voices enter one after another, the harmonic texture grows rich and full. The mature text anchors the piece in genuine expression, transforming a round into a moment of quiet reflection that your singers will feel ownership of.

Who it's for

Middle and high school choirs seeking meaningful canon repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musicality for pedagogical function. The SAB voicing and accessible range make it practical for general music ensembles and select choirs alike.

How to get the most out of it

  • Stagger entrances deliberately during rehearsals. Have the first voice establish the melody confidently before the second voice enters; this clarity prevents rhythmic slippage when voices stack.
  • Use the optional chamber music accompaniment to build confidence in younger or less secure sections. The instrumental support anchors the ensemble without obscuring the canon's independence.
  • Emphasize the text's lyrical quality rather than mechanical precision. When singers connect to "I have a song within my heart," the canon flows musically instead of feeling like a technical exercise.

How to use it

Program this during a concert section dedicated to vocal technique or choral artistry. It works particularly well as a bridge between a more demanding major-key work and a closing piece, allowing your ensemble to demonstrate both skill and musical thoughtfulness while giving audiences a brief, luminous moment.

Skills your students will build

  • Canon independence and listening to concurrent vocal lines
  • Part singing in three-part mixed voicing (SAB)
  • Sustaining pitch and harmonic awareness while other voices enter
  • Interpreting mature, literary text with expressive singing

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