Ruth Morris Gray : The Rainbow

Rossetti's charming poem is set for treble voices of any age. The polyphonic choral writing is simple yet sophisticated, colorful yet clear.The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances.

You will be pleasantly surprised to hear "Deck the Hall" set in a ballad style. Plus, the original "'Tis the season" theme makes a heartfelt introduction and interlude for the popular carol. A sweet, secular selection for holiday concerts.

Ruth Morris Gray's ability to use voices to elevate and enhance the meaning of a text is masterful. Based on the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, this beautiful choral work features an elegant melody supported by a hauntingly expressive piano accompaniment. Equally well-suited for concert or contest programs, this stunning piece encourages top-tier musicality. Now available for S.A.T.B.

This dramatic choral for SAB choirs showcases three equally exciting, challenging, and achievable voice parts. Percussive phrases and varied sections will make for an impressive concert or adjudication selection. Accompaniment included on PianoTrax 2 CD (00-31290).

This little known English carol is appropriate for holiday concerts, Yuletide feasts, and madrigal performances. Evoke a Renaissance atmosphere this December, singing of wassail---both a cordial greeting and a spiced mulled cider.

Let the gospel sounds of this original Christmas spiritual lift you up! Syncopated rhythms and developed harmonies come naturally and fit the style. Snippets from familiar carols appear throughout, adding to the joy.

Here's a gorgeous setting of the text from "Angels We Have Heard on High" that includes a beautifully arranged verse of "Silent Night." Featuring long legato lines, expressive phrasing, and warm choral writing, this ethereal piece ignites musicality.

Composer: Traditional

Ruth Morris Gray presents an exquisite minor-key setting that elevates choral musicianship. A rich melody ebbs and flows over the colorful harmonic palette, while a captivating piano theme winds its way throughout. Various textures, expressive dynamics, and rubato tempos encourage artistry. For added flexibility, a few optional notes in the 2-Part voicing offer moments of SSA harmony.

The words of Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson are beautifully set in this lush, contemporary choral for distinguished choirs. Seamless metric changes, rich vocal harmonies, and a graceful piano motif vividly capture the poetic mood. An exquisite work with a haunting melodic theme.

Ruth's captivating setting truly captures the distinctly Asian flavor of this ancient Japanese text with its haunting melody and simple harmonies, featuring open fourths and fifths. The Japanese lyrics, which alternate with the English translation, are easily learned, and both a pronunciation guide and translation are included. Reminiscent of her best-selling "In This Ancient House" (15/2407H), you won't want your singers to miss experiencing this creative-programming, multicultural gem!

Country: Japan

Entirely in Spanish, this lively original song for Christmas will shine for your concert. Simple harmony and the use of imitation make this an easy choral work to teach. The adorable message of Hurry, hurry, Christmas! I can't wait one more day! will create a fun, up-tempo selection. Add percussion instruments for more performance excitement and musical learning.

This authentic Zulu folk song is a perfect fit for mixed and treble choirs in three parts. The multicultural groove of rhythmic choral parts is routinely punctuated by brief solos and joyful handclaps. Add the optional African percussion to enhance the experience.

Country: Zulu

The captivating words of James T. Fields are set to dramatic music evocative of a tumultuous sea and symbolizing the constant struggle of man versus nature. An exciting musical story that your choir will love to tell. Effective in all voicings.

Ruth Morris Gray has created a unique, rhythmic setting of this traditional Scottish carol featuring a playful interchange between duple and triple meters and a truly joyful piano accompaniment. This lively setting is sure to lend a festive mood to your school or church holiday programs.

Country: Scotland

A bombastic and stately theme, based on stacked modal harmonies, gives a triumphant air to this contemporary setting of the traditional Latin text. Hushed B and C sections offer contrast before recapitulating the grandiose opening and an even fuller final cadence. Timpani, tubular bells, and triangle (which may be downloaded for free) may be performed by a single percussionist and add to the riveting drama.

This artistic setting features a text adapted from Rossetti's reverent "Before the Paling of the Stars." A haunting melodic theme sets the tone for this minor-mode gem, which could be considered a contemporary nativity carol. Gorgeous. Accompaniment available on PianoTrax 4 CD (00-35870).

"I can live my life on earth contented to the end, if but a few shall . . . call me friend." "Success," by "people's poet" Edgar Guest is paired with a few lines from Shakespeareis "Sonnet 50" to create a warm, reflective text on the importance of friendship. Subtle tempo changes and sensitive dynamics encourage expressive singing, and an optional obbligato allows for a C-instrument of your choice.

Poetry By: William Shakespeare

A favorite North American tune is creatively arranged incorporating unison and 2-part harmony, round and partner-style singing with original music. A treasure chest of teaching and learning that includes optional percussion instruments and a text that reflects the Native American philosophy of reverence for the earth.

Country: Native American

The familiar Latin text has been set many times by many composers, but this dynamic and rhythmic composition rises above. Opens with a driving marcato theme, which is brilliantly contrasted by the expressive, legato B section. A dramatic choral work that delivers an impressive effect.

Winter words are a perfect fit for this popular Ukrainian folk tune, as we sing about bundling up, sledding over hills and valleys, and dashing through snow-covered trees. The introduction and a brief interlude hint at what's to come---the familiar melody is not sung until later in the piece!

Based on a poem by Christina Rossetti, this creative treble choral will both educate and entertain. A playful piano accompaniment and agile choral parts reflect the inching of a caterpillar in motion. Sensible two-part writing allows every singer to take a turn on the main melody as well as a contrasting counterline. Delightful!

A poetic message of how we are all connected by the bonds of life is found in this moving, musical work. With a simple beginning, this piece has rhythmic and contemporary accompaniment and builds to a strong key change. The perfect ending for any concert and an especially nice addition to multicultural-themed programs. Available: SATB; SAB; 2-Part; StudioTrax CD.

Longfellow's text is set with additional words and music by Ruth Morris Gray and the piano accompaniment is based on Pachelbel's Canon in D. Together, it creates a sweet choral singing ding dong gently above the verses with use of an optional descant as well. A mature and meaningful selection for developing choirs.

This jazzy number is perfect for your women as a novelty piece. Strong three-part harmony, sassy vocal slides, and an optional trumpet set the mood for Christmas shopping and all the craziness of the gift-giving season. Available separately: SSA, Trumpet; StudioTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:53.

"Look, the trees are bright, strung with twinkling lights; there's excitement in the air!" It's true! This playful piece will put excitement in the air for singers and audiences alike. Quoting "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," this cheerful and festive original work makes an excellent closer for any holiday program.

Percussive and dynamic a cappella singing will appeal to choirs of all sizes singing about the new born baby in Bethlehem. Hushed and vibrant energy play between voices throughout this a cappella work, which also offers optional descant, solos and a simple rhythmic shaker percussion part.

A spry and enchanting adaptation of Edvard Grieg's magical piano solo, this choral arrangement conjures up heaps of holiday cheer with its clever lyrics and jaunty classical feel. Festive and fun!

Composer: Edvard Grieg

Powerful and intense! Angular phrases and percussive attacks add to the drama in this contemporary setting of the day of wrath text. A tour de force for accomplished choirs.

This bright holiday favorite has been arranged with a rhythmic and fun contemporary piano accompaniment supporting the traditional melody and harmonies. Added sections of ding dong dot the arrangement and the optional glockenspiel or handbell parts allow this choral to shine for the holidays. Available: 3-Part Mixed; 2-Part; PianoTrax CD.

Take your time with rubato when conducting this gorgeous contemporary setting of the well-known Latin text. Delicate melodies, rich harmonies, and lush choral textures will bring out the musicality of your choir. A fine concert, contest, and festival work.

This pair of novelty nonsense-syllable settings is fine fare for choirs with a fondness for funny! Easier to achieve than similar songs, these Classical era tunes guarantee a chuckle. Performs well as a set or as individual pieces.

This nature-inspired poem celebrates our connection to the rising sun, incorporating equal parts English and Hawaiian text. Rhythmic and harmonic motives sound authentic throughout. Highly creative.

Country: Hawaii

A meditation on the restorative power of nature, this Edgar Allan Poe poem compares a proud star with the cold moon. Colorful homophonic harmonies and a brief canon beam with wonder in this dramatic mixed voice feature. Excellent for exploring legato singing, choral intonation, musical expression, and text interpretation.

Composer: Edgar Allan Poe | Poetry By: Edgar Allan Poe

Get out your bobby socks and saddle shoes for this 1950s-style reimagining of "Deck the Hall" with a brand new melody. The classic doo-wop harmonies and rock 'n' roll groove are easy to grasp and sure to entertain. Don't miss the choreography available on With a Song!

This playfully polyphonic piece, composed in a minor key, features a text by Emily Dickinson and lively music reminiscent of the Classical era. An agile piano accompaniment and satisfying vocal parts that work well together make it a tasty treat to perform. Great for contests!

Poetry By: Emily Dickinson

We won't go until we get some---but how exactly do you make that holiday confection, anyway? Find the answer in this playful, original (and completely secular) holiday canon loosely based on a fragment from "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Prepared with old English Dickensian flair, the round stacks in three, a perfect recipe for building harmony skills.

This charming Armenian folk song is both beautiful and simple. This arrangement offers the original Armenian text, a phonetic pronunciation guide and a singable English text. This allows you to perform the work entirely in Armenian, entirely in English or any combination you desire.

Country: Armenia

A basic synopsis of the Spanish: let's celebrate the holiday by playing tambourines and rattles. This lively a cappella arrangement of the traditional Andalusian villancico offers downloadable percussion parts, as inspired by the text. Ruth Morris Gray's real-world teaching experience and seasoned writing skills are evident throughout, ensuring a smooth rehearsal process during the busiest time of year. A fun way to bring variety to holiday programs!

Sara Teasdale's text is superbly set in a steady and flowing concert work for mixed voices as well as men's ensembles. Diverse part-writing fills the choral, creating harmonic contrast and richness with beautiful examples of text-painting from the composer.

Poetry By: Sara Teasdale

Edge-of-your-seat excitement! Substantial contrasts in dynamics and articulation make this arrangement of the traditional spiritual a fitting entry point into the study of the style. Embrace the drama and storytelling of the classic struggle between the Israelites and Pharaoh, while knowing that you're also giving your singers solid choral repertoire.

Composer: Traditional

Written in the style of a spiritual, this original gospel tune will be a highlight this Christmas season. Featuring call-and-response voicing, stylized articulation, and dramatic dynamic shifts, there are plenty of musical concepts to teach your singers and delight your fans. Ready-to-go riser choreography is available on the Movin' DVD.

The definitive a cappella Christmas spiritual of the year! A descending bass line is a firm foundation in the A section, B features the girls vs. the guys, a vocal stack builds in the middle, followed by a soaring descant that takes the final refrain up a notch! Appropriate for school and church use.

It's the familiar "Il Est Né" sung in English, arranged in a French consort style. Open choral harmonies and accumulating counterlines add to the effect and further the festivity.

The call of the river, the psalm of the skies, notes of its melody. This wonderful text celebrates each of us; school bus driver, clerk, policeman, neighbors, children, everyone in our lives and the river of life and love flowing through us all. Set as an inspirational ballad with optional percussion, this is a stunning selection for concert and festival.

Delightfully playful with contrasting short and legato singing, this English folk song is a gem for any program. Harmonic writing surrounded by a round conjures its genesis of the English caroling tradition passed down generation to generation.

Country: England

A traditional Japanese poem is set in a twisting and turning repetitive pentatonic fashion in this serene multicultural choral. Contemporary harmonies, sung with straight tone, will challenge and delight all who perform and hear this fresh and haunting masterpiece. Add an optional tonechime or handbell.

Country: Japan

The sorrowful text from Shakespeare's 97th sonnet is artfully set for choirs with mature musical taste. Sing the liquid phrases with a beautiful line and observe the tempo nuances in order to attain the most expressive performance. Sublime. Featured on PianoTrax 3 Accompaniment CD (00-34744).

Composer: William Shakespeare

A cappella singing is set with optional percussion telling the story of the birth in Bethlehem and creating an exciting Christmas or holiday performance. Optional solos are sprinkled about creating call and answer style moments. The use of multi-meter and repetition make it easy and fun to learn creating an impressive performance.

Familiar words, new melody. Ruth's cheerful a cappella setting of the yuletide text accentuates the "peace on earth" lyric, adding a harmonically rich bridge on just those words. Crisp choral "ding dong" entrances, a melodic twist in the middle, and a tuneful final descant decorate the otherwise strophic verses. Add to the festivity (and anchor the minor-key tonality) with optional tubular bells or chimes.

Composer: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | Poetry By: Henry Wadsworth Longfello

This traditional Hawaiian chant was used when master canoe builders called for people to bring trees down from the mountains to the ocean side so that canoes could be built. Now set to music, the words teach us to stand up together and work as a team. An upbeat hook, a spoken word section, and a contrasting countermelody combine at the end to create the ultimate multicultural experience. Download the digital ChoreoTrax for even more fun!

Country: Hawaii