The Snow: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Words by Emily Dickinson, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0007507
$2.30
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Crisp eighth-note figures and steady sleigh bells create the feeling of a jaunty sleigh ride while contrasting legato sections evoke the chill of blowing snow. Sopranos exclaim the title over and over as others interject with words from Emily Dickinson's wintertime poem. Some repetition makes for ease of learning, but the unexpected harmonic progression keeps things fresh.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007507
More about this title
About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has directed choirs at Rosemead High School in California since 2004, where she also teaches piano. Her compositional catalog includes over 100 published choral works, demonstrating a sustained commitment to writing music for student and community ensembles.
Gray earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University, followed by a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara. She holds a California Single Subject Music Credential from California State University, Northridge. Beyond her work in music, she is an avid traveler, swimmer, and cyclist.
Why we love this
Gray sets Dickinson's poem with genuine textural variety, moving seamlessly between driving rhythmic sections and introspective legato writing. The harmonic language surprises without overwhelming singers, rewarding careful listening while remaining accessible for mixed choirs at the secondary level.
What to expect
Energetic and picturesque by turns. You'll feel the forward push of sleigh runners in the bright eighth-note patterns and hear the hush of falling snow in the contrasting legato phrases. The interplay between sopranos proclaiming and the other voices answering creates playful dialogue that keeps the text alive.
Who it's for
Three-part mixed choirs in grades 9 and up with solid rhythmic confidence and some exposure to contemporary harmonic language. The piece works equally well in educational settings and community or church choir programs looking for substantial winter repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Differentiate the character clearly: the jaunty eighth-note figures need rhythmic snap and forward momentum, while the legato snow imagery calls for sustained tone and careful phrase shaping.
- Balance the sopranos' repeated text exclamations so they cut through without dominating the texture; use dynamic markings to ensure the other voice parts stay engaged.
- Experiment with the recorded accompaniment to lock in the steady pulse that the sleigh bell figures depend on, then gradually reduce reliance on it during rehearsals.
- Mark the unexpected harmonic progressions in your score so singers understand where the ear should travel; this context makes those moments more secure.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a winter concert, pairing it with other seasonal works that either share its rhythmic energy or provide textural contrast. Its literary grounding in Dickinson also pairs well with other poetry-based settings or a concert theme exploring American poetry in music.
Skills your students will build
- Contrasting articulation and phrasing within a single piece (crisp rhythmic figures versus sustained legato)
- Balancing solo or semi-solo voice parts while maintaining ensemble cohesion
- Reading and performing contemporary harmonic progressions
- Text expression with multiple vocal lines speaking simultaneously