Winter Is at Hand: SAB Choral Octavo
Words by William Shakespeare, music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0005552
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005552
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 output spans over 100 published works for choir, reflecting a deep engagement with both pedagogy and artistic craft.
Gray 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. She earned her California Single Subject Music Credential at Cal State Northridge. Beyond the music studio, she is an avid traveler, swimmer, reader, and cyclist.
Why we love this
Gray anchors this piece in Shakespeare's language, giving singers text with genuine poetic weight rather than generic seasonal sentiment. The interplay of tempo and dynamic shifts creates interpretive opportunities that reward careful ensemble listening and musical maturity, making it ideal for choirs ready to move beyond purely technical challenges.
What to expect
A contemplative meditation on seasonal transition, rich with the imagery of approaching winter. The shifting tempos and dynamics create a restless quality that mirrors uncertainty and change, while the Shakespearean text lends gravitas and sophistication to the choral sound.
Who it's for
SAB choirs with singers who have solid blend and can sustain a lyrical line. This piece works for high school or community choirs seeking concert or festival repertoire with literary substance and moderate technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Map the tempo and dynamic shifts with precision during early rehearsals; mark structural moments where the push and pull occurs so singers understand the architectural design.
- Attend to the text's imagery through vocal coloring and phrasing rather than aggressive dynamics; let the Shakespearean language guide the emotional arc.
- Balance the three SAB parts so no single voice overwhelms the harmonic texture, particularly during moments of dynamic rise.
How to use it
Program this in late fall as a concert opener or closer, pairing it with other seasonal or thematically connected works. Its literary depth and reflective mood make it particularly effective in contest contexts where adjudicators value both musicianship and textual awareness.
Skills your students will build
- Responding to subtle tempo and dynamic changes within a single piece
- Interpreting poetic text and translating language into vocal color and phrasing
- Balancing three independent voice parts in close harmony
- Sustaining legit tone through dynamic shifts