The Water Is Wide: SSA Choral Octavo

Althouse's gift for contemporary voicing brings fresh life to this familiar melody without losing its folk authenticity. The shimmering harmonies paired with a rolling piano part create a piece that feels substantial enough for festival consideration while remaining accessible for singers across ability levels.

The melody floats above contemporary harmonies that shimmer and shift, anchored by a gently rolling piano accompaniment that gives the piece forward momentum. There's an intimate quality here, the familiar tune transformed into something fresher while honoring its folk roots.

This arrangement suits upper-level middle school, high school, and community choirs with solid part-singing skills. It works equally well for competitive festival choirs looking for a folk-based selection and concert programs seeking pieces that bridge traditional and contemporary styles.

• Balance the SSA voicing so the melody sits naturally in the soprano line while the alto and second soprano parts bloom underneath; resist over-darkening the texture with heavy weight on lower voices.
• Work with your pianist on the rhythmic integrity of the accompaniment; the rolling pattern drives the piece forward and should feel conversational rather than rigid.
• Shape the phrases by drawing energy toward the highest notes rather than letting intensity drop at phrase endings; this keeps the contemporary harmonies from sounding static.

Program this alongside other folk arrangements or American repertoire to create thematic depth on a concert. Its festival appeal makes it a strong choice for spring competitions, and its accessible length and voicing fit well into a mixed program without requiring extensive rehearsal time.

• Blending within SSA voicing while maintaining textural clarity
• Sustaining longer musical phrases through contemporary harmonic movement
• Coordinate singing with accompaniment patterns to ensure rhythmic cohesion
• Interpreting folk melody through arranged harmonies