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Wade in the Water: TTBB Choral Octavo

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Wade in the Water Cover Image
Wade in the Water: TTBB Choral Octavo

Wade in the Water: TTBB Choral Octavo

Traditional Spiritual / arr. Mark Hayes

Item: 00-20182
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Description
The classic arrangement returns in a new SAB voicing! This work opens with a choral fanfare-like section and progresses through several swinging sections to a climactic finish. This is Mark Hayes at his very best. Many opportunities for brief solos. And the optional instrumental accompaniment (or SoundTrax CD) is outstanding.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Wade in the Water: TTBB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081187464
SKU: 00-20182

More about this title

About the Arranger: Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes brings three decades of experience as a composer, arranger, and conductor working at the highest levels of the music world. His catalog exceeds 1,750 published works spanning sacred choral music, orchestral scores, musicals, and an extensive library of piano repertoire. He holds a degree in piano performance from Baylor University and has premiered major works at Lincoln Center and the Vatican, earning the 2010 Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music from his alma mater.

Beyond composition and conducting, Hayes is a prolific orchestrator and recording producer whose work spans gospel, classical, jazz, and musical theater. His arrangements of spirituals and traditional songs have become standards in concert and educational choral programs, prized for their musicality, accessibility, and opportunities for musical expression at multiple performance levels.

Why we love this

Hayes understands how to make a spiritual sing without oversimplifying the harmonic language or the emotional weight. The combination of a striking opening, swinging sections that keep singers engaged, and built-in solo opportunities means your ensemble stays invested from beginning to end. The optional instrumental accompaniment elevates this from a solid choral piece to a concert-ready performance.

What to expect

This arrangement captures the joy and resilience of the spiritual tradition while honoring its depth. The swinging passages create forward momentum and buoyancy, yet the piece never loses sight of the sacred character at its core, building to an exhilarating finish that leaves both singers and listeners energized.

Who it's for

Male voice choirs performing at the intermediate to advanced level who want a spiritually grounded piece with genuine musical substance. Directors seeking a spiritual that offers solo opportunities without requiring auditions or advanced individual singers will find this especially useful in festival and concert settings.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening fanfare section with clear articulation and strong ensemble blend; this moment sets the energy for everything that follows.
  • Let soloists breathe naturally during their moments. Hayes writes brief passages that work best when they feel conversational rather than pressured.
  • Use the recorded accompaniment in rehearsal to lock the swing feel early on. Once the rhythm section lives in your singers' ears, they'll internalize the pocket more quickly.
  • Build momentum gradually through the middle sections; resist the urge to bring the climax too early, saving your fullest dynamic and vocal weight for the final push.

How to use it

Program this in a concert celebrating American musical traditions alongside other spirituals or folk-based works. Its appeal spans sacred music festivals, community concert series, and educational contexts where you want to showcase male voices in stylistically rich repertoire. The optional instrumental accompaniment makes it equally effective as a standalone feature or as part of a larger concert program.

Skills your students will build

  • Swing rhythm and jazz articulation in a choral context
  • Blending in homophonic and close-harmony writing
  • Solo preparation and confidence in featured passages
  • Expressive interpretation of African American spiritual tradition
  • Part independence when singing with optional instrumental accompaniment

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