The Water Is Wide: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Krogstad captures what makes this melody endure while giving your strings something genuinely rewarding to play. The piano writing adds color and texture without overshadowing the ensemble, and the piece respects both the song's lyrical character and your students' growing technical abilities.

There's a quiet dignity to this arrangement. The melody unfolds with the grace of a folk song that has traveled centuries, while the harmonies beneath it create warmth and depth. You'll hear your ensemble achieve something that feels both intimate and full.

String orchestras working solidly at grades 3 and 4 will find a piece that challenges them musically without creating rehearsal obstacles. Teachers looking for a concert closer or a program piece that demonstrates ensemble cohesion and mature phrasing will see real value here.

• Shape the phrase endings with subtle dynamic tapering rather than sudden drops; let the melody breathe naturally across the longer lines.
• Balance the solo piano moments so they anchor the harmonic foundation without drowning out the string texture above.
• Attend to intonation in the sustained chords, as slower tempos expose unison and unison doublings immediately.
• Allow the ensemble to settle into the melody's contemplative quality; resist rushing the four-minute arc.

Program this as a ballast piece in a mixed concert, placing it after more energetic works to show your ensemble's range and maturity. It pairs naturally with English or folk-influenced repertoire, or use it as a closing number that leaves audiences in a reflective mood.

• Sustaining long, singing phrases without rhythmic tension
• Balance and blend across divisi string sections
• Intonation accuracy in slow harmonic progressions
• Dynamic control and subtle color shifts within a narrow dynamic range
• Coordination with piano accompaniment