Ruth Morris Gray

Winter Has Come

The poetry of this expressive winter song provides a florid description of the season's most distinct attributes. Warm choral harmonies are a stark contrast to the icy imagery, and an optional flute obbligato floats above.A NOTE FROM THE COMPOSER In December 2011, I directed my intermediate-level mixed choir in a performance of two of my new Alfred publications. We opened with the traditional 'Carol of the Bells,' then performed 'Winter Has Come' and 'Rise Up and Follow that Star.' The set worked really well. 'Winter Has Come' was a lovely lyrical contrast to the quick opening piece, and allowed me to feature an outstanding student flutist. 'Rise Up and Follow that Star' made a terrific closer! I had the choir open singing forte (instead of mezzo-forte as marked) and all 60 singers lifted up their hands on each 'rise up!' We grabbed the audience's attention with the first line - I saw several people almost jump out of their seats. They loved it!