(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay: SATB Choral Octavo
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay Sheet Music Preview

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay: SATB Choral Octavo

As performed by Otis Redding / As performed by Steve Cropper / As performed by Anne Raugh / Arranged by Deke Sharon

Item: 35-DS00299767
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 8
SKU: 35-DS00299767

More about this title

About the Artist: Otis Redding

Otis Redding emerged from the Stax Records soul tradition as one of the most influential voices in American music. His emotional intensity and rhythmic sophistication transformed soul music in the 1960s, influencing generations of singers across genres. Though his career was tragically cut short, his catalog remains a cornerstone of popular music education and a touchstone for understanding authentic soul expression.

Why we love this

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the ease and groove of Redding's original while opening it up for a cappella voices to breathe and blend. The song's infectious melody and understated charm translate beautifully to SATB, giving students a chance to sing something genuinely beloved without the baggage of oversinging it.

What to expect

Warm, contemplative, and effortlessly cool. The arrangement wraps you in the kind of harmony you'd hear at sunset on actual water, watching life drift by. There's a gentle wisdom here that feels both timeless and immediate.

Who it's for

Choirs seeking repertoire that feels contemporary yet has real staying power will find a winner here. This works for high school and college ensembles looking to expand beyond traditional show choir fare without stepping outside accessibility.

How to get the most out of it

  • Find the pocket early in rehearsal. This song lives in its relaxation, not its energy. Lock the rhythm section voices (bass and lower altos) into a conversational groove rather than a metronomic pulse.
  • Balance the solo line generously. The melody should sit naturally above the harmony, inviting the audience in rather than commanding attention.
  • Let the arrangement breathe at phrase endings. Small releases and gentle re-attacks will honor the song's reflective quality better than driving through every bar.
  • Tune the suspended and seventh harmonies with care. They're the harmonic signature of soul music, and accurate intonation makes them sing.

How to use it

Pair this with other classic soul or pop standards to anchor a program exploring American vernacular music. It also makes an excellent closer for a concert, offering audiences a moment of genuine reflection before they leave.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining tone quality across sustained vowels without vibrato (soul singing technique)
  • Balancing melody and harmony in close-voiced chords
  • Rhythmic control in groove-based repertoire (steady pulse without mechanical precision)
  • Blending extended harmonies (seventh chords, suspended chords) in tune
  • Stylistic singing that honors the soul tradition without pastiche

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