By the Gentle Waters: SATB Choral Octavo
By the Gentle Waters Sheet Music Preview

By the Gentle Waters: SATB Choral Octavo

Arranged by Cindy Berry

Item: 35-DS00404911
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$3.05
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00404911

More about this title

About the Arranger: Cindy Berry

Cindy Berry

Cindy Berry is a Houston native and Houston Baptist University alumna who has built a career arranging and composing for choral ensembles, children's musical theater, and piano. Her work spans both sacred repertoire and secular arrangements, and she brings consistent recognition through annual ASCAP Special Awards. As a clinician, Berry leads composer workshops and seminars across the country, sharing her approach to accessible, meaningful choral writing.

Berry's musical life centers on her role as pianist and children's choir director at First Baptist Church in Killeen, Texas, where she serves alongside her husband Bruce, a Minister of Music. Her compositions and arrangements consistently reflect her conviction that music functions as an offering, shaping how she approaches each new work.

Why we love this

Berry's arrangement brings thoughtful voice leading and genuine singability to this traditional piece, avoiding the overly complex harmonies that can bog down secular repertoire at this level. The writing feels fresh without demanding extremes from your singers, making it a smart choice for choirs seeking accessible beauty.

What to expect

Serene and reflective, this arrangement captures the calm of its pastoral imagery through warm harmonic choices and careful voice distribution. There is gentleness here without sentimentality, creating space for contemplation rather than drama.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced high school choirs, college and university ensembles, and community choruses looking for a secular arrangement with musical substance. The piece suits singers with solid blend and musicianship who are ready to shape ensemble sound rather than push volume.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the soprano line against the inner voices; this arrangement invites the lower parts to carry harmonic warmth, so resist the instinct to let sopranos dominate.
  • Take time with the text underlay in rehearsal to ensure all four parts understand the poetic arc, which deepens the interpretive choices your singers make.
  • Let the piece breathe at natural phrase endings rather than rushing through cadences; the gentleness in the title applies equally to pacing.

How to use it

Pair this as a contrasting selection alongside more energetic repertoire in a mixed concert, or use it to open a program when you want to establish a reflective mood. The seven-page length makes it practical for a full concert set without consuming significant rehearsal time relative to more complex works.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining legit tone across phrase lengths in inner voice parts
  • Balancing individual line independence with ensemble blend
  • Interpreting text naturally within shaped harmonic progressions
  • Managing breath control in extended vowel-based passages

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