Winter Is at Hand Cover Image

Winter Is at Hand: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.90 USD
$1.90 USD
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Winter Is at Hand Cover Image
Winter Is at Hand: SATB Choral Octavo

Winter Is at Hand: SATB Choral Octavo

Words by William Shakespeare, music by Ruth Morris Gray

Item: 00-45675
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Description
"When clouds appear, when wise men put on their cloaks, when great leaves fall, the winter is at hand." Comprised of lines from Shakespeare's immortal drama Richard III, the text of this haunting and evocative piece is rich with seasonal imagery. Push and pull of tempos and the rise and fall of dynamics ensure musical interpretation.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Winter Is at Hand: SATB 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: 038081514147
SKU: 00-45675

More about this title

About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray has directed choirs at Rosemead High School 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, completing her California Single Subject Music Credential at California State University, Northridge.

With more than 100 published choral compositions to her name, Gray brings both compositional sophistication and classroom experience to her work. Beyond music, she is an accomplished performer and traveler who finds creative inspiration across multiple disciplines.

Why we love this

Gray's use of Shakespeare's language creates an immediate sense of gravitas without feeling heavy-handed. The dynamic architecture (those deliberate pushes and pulls of tempo) gives your singers real interpretive choices to make, transforming a seasonal text into something genuinely theatrical and memorable for both performers and audience.

What to expect

Atmospheric and introspective, this piece evokes the visual weight of winter through its harmonic language and textural shifts. The music mirrors the text's imagery of encroaching cold, fallen leaves, and human preparation, creating an emotional landscape that feels both intimate and dramatic.

Who it's for

SATB choirs preparing for winter concerts, seasonal festivals, or contest repertoire benefit from this piece's literary sophistication and moderate technical demands. The work appeals to singers who enjoy expressive, interpretive challenges and directors seeking programming that pairs strong poetry with compelling musicality.

How to get the most out of it

  • Mark the tempo shifts explicitly in your score before rehearsals begin. Gray's contrasts between moments of urgency and stillness anchor the dramatic reading.
  • Layer in the dynamic shapes gradually. Start by having each voice part identify its own peaks and valleys, then rehearse how those lines interact across the SATB texture.
  • Allow space for the text to land. These Shakespeare lines carry weight; resist the urge to rush through them even when the music pulls forward.

How to use it

Pair this with other seasonal or literary-driven works to build a thematic concert program. Its 12-page length makes it a substantial anchor piece without overwhelming your program, and the theatrical undertones position it well as either an opening statement or a striking centerpiece before a lighter closing number.

Skills your students will build

  • Interpreting dynamic and tempo changes as dramatic storytelling tools
  • Sustaining long vocal lines with expressive shape and direction
  • Balancing individual voice part detail within SATB texture
  • Connecting literary text to musical phrasing and emotional intent

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