Winter Is at Hand Cover Image

Winter Is at Hand: SAB Choral Octavo

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

Winter Is at Hand: SAB Choral Octavo

Words by William Shakespeare, music by Ruth Morris Gray

Item: 00-45676
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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: SAB 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: 038081514154
SKU: 00-45676

More about this title

About the Composer: Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray

Ruth Morris Gray brings deep roots in both composition and choral direction. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University, then continued her studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she completed a Master of Arts in Music Composition. Her California Single Subject Music Credential from California State University, Northridge prepared her for a teaching career that began in 2004 at Rosemead High School, where she has served as Director of Choirs while also teaching piano.

With over 100 published choral compositions to her name, Gray understands what works in the rehearsal room and what resonates with singers. Beyond her work as composer, director, and performer, she is an accomplished traveler, swimmer, reader, and e-bike enthusiast who shares her passion for exploration with her husband, Douglas.

Why we love this

Gray's setting draws real dramatic power from Shakespeare's language without overshadowing the text. The shifting tempos and dynamic contours create a piece that demands genuine musical expression from your singers rather than relying on complexity, making it an excellent choice for choirs with strong musicianship but varying technical ability. Programming this gives you a sophisticated concert work that also stands confidently in a festival setting.

What to expect

Haunting and introspective, this piece evokes the visual and emotional weight of winter's arrival through careful harmonic pacing and dynamic architecture. The text's Shakespearean imagery unfolds without rushing, creating space for contemplation even as the music pushes and pulls with interpretive vitality.

Who it's for

Any SAB or three-part mixed choir with intermediate-to-advanced singers who can track tempo changes and respond to expressive direction. This works equally well for high school choirs, community ensembles, and college non-majors groups seeking repertoire with literary substance.

How to get the most out of it

  • Map the tempo and dynamic shifts carefully in rehearsal before drilling voice parts. These are your roadmap to interpretation, and singers perform better when they understand where the music breathes and surges.
  • Balance the three parts so the text remains clear throughout. SAB writing can muddy quickly if the sopranos don't have room to float the melody, especially in the richer harmonic moments.
  • Let the Shakespeare language inform your phrasing. Treat punctuation and meaning as guides for breath placement and emphasis, not just musical notation.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece of a winter concert or as a striking contrast to lighter seasonal fare. Its literary roots and concert-hall sophistication also make it a compelling festival selection that showcases choir maturity without demanding virtuosic technical demands.

Skills your students will build

  • Responding to tempo changes and executing expressive dynamic contrasts
  • Balancing three-part harmony while maintaining textual clarity
  • Interpreting dramatic text through musical phrasing and breath placement
  • Sustaining focus through a piece that emphasizes artistry over technical difficulty

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