The Water Is Wide: SAB Choral Octavo
American Folk Song / arr. Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0006098
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Greg suggests performing his moody setting of the enduring folk song “with longing and mystery”---a fitting approach for this creative re-harmonization. A hushed layering of the first four melodic notes provides the gentle introduction and pensive closing for this uniquely wistful arrangement. Rich choral sonorities, with just a touch of dissonance, emerge when the piece arrives at its “love is handsome” peak.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006098
More about this title
About the Arranger: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin brings the skill of both conductor and composer to his work as one of America's most performed choral arrangers. His credentials span prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney Opera House, and his arrangements are staples in choirs across the country. Beyond music, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring and professional organizing, earning recognition on network television and contributing an award-winning score to the short film "Rosie's Rescue."
Why we love this
Gilpin's re-harmonization transforms a familiar melody into something introspective and layered without losing the song's essential character. The harmonic richness and strategic use of dissonance give your singers genuine musical work to do, while the piece remains accessible for SAB ensembles. It's a program piece that rewards careful rehearsal and delivers a moment of genuine emotional depth.
What to expect
Introspective and tender, with an undercurrent of longing that surfaces through careful harmonic choices rather than theatrical gestures. The arrangement creates intimate moments layered against fuller choral textures, inviting listeners into the emotional space of the song rather than announcing it.
Who it's for
SAB choirs seeking concert repertoire that honors a folk tradition while offering fresh harmonic and textural ideas. This piece works well for choirs with developing sight-reading skills who need music that sounds more complex than it actually is to navigate.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening unison phrase with a sense of anticipation rather than resolution; these first four notes should float into the fuller harmonies that follow, not anchor them.
- Blend the SAB voicing carefully during the hushed passages to let the re-harmonization emerge naturally rather than sound intentionally dark.
- Build the dynamics gradually toward "love is handsome" so the moment of richer sonority feels earned and does not jar the audience.
How to use it
Place this on a concert program where it can breathe alongside other folk arrangements or contemporary choral works. The piece pairs naturally with other contemplative repertoire and provides a strong closer or reflective moment in the middle of a program.
Skills your students will build
- Blending SAB voicing with precise intonation in re-harmonized passages
- Managing dynamic shapes across phrase lines in a folk arrangement
- Responding to harmonic color changes and dissonance with disciplined vocal control
- Interpreting arranger performance notes ("longing and mystery") through interpretive singing choices