Wade in the Water Cover Image

Wade in the Water: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.75 USD
$1.75 USD
Skip to product information
Wade in the Water Cover Image
Wade in the Water: SATB Choral Octavo

Wade in the Water: SATB Choral Octavo

Traditional Spiritual / arr. Patsy Ford Simms and Andy Beck

Item: 00-27293
makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$1.75
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Wade in the Water: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$22.95
View

Wade in the Water: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.75
View

Wade in the Water: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

$1.85
View
Description
You've never heard it like this before! A dramatic solo provides the powerful introduction before this hip spiritual arrangement kicks into a groovy jazz waltz. A call and response verse highlights individual sections of the choir (or soloists), and an ultra-cool transition builds and modulates into the final choral refrain. Great to perform with a jazz combo.

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: SATB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081295534
SKU: 00-27293

More about this title

About the Arranger: Patsy Ford Simms

Patsy Ford Simms

Patsy Ford Simms began her publishing career in 1981 and has since created over 300 compositions and arrangements across educational and sacred markets. Her work grew from a direct teaching need: during her early years in the classroom, she found a shortage of quality choral octavos written for junior high and middle school singers, so she began filling that gap herself. She holds degrees from Knoxville College (B.S. in Music Education), the University of Louisville (M.Ed.), and Columbia Pacific University (Ed.D.).

After 30 years teaching K-12 students and serving at the Youth Performing Arts School, Simms transitioned to a full-time career as an arranger, composer, and clinician. Her work has earned multiple ASCAP Special Music Awards, and two of her compositions were selected for MENC World's Largest Concerts. She has presented clinics internationally in Italy and Africa, and has created commissioned works and short musicals centered on African American history.

Why we love this

This arrangement respects the spiritual's power while completely reimagining its setting. The jazz waltz context and groovy accompaniment feel fresh without overwhelming younger singers, and the built-in solo moment lets you spotlight a confident vocalist or multiple section leaders depending on your ensemble's needs.

What to expect

Sophisticated yet accessible. The arrangement opens with a dramatic solo moment that immediately sets you apart from typical spiritual performances, then settles into a swinging, conversational groove. There's both joy and attitude here—the kind of arrangement that makes singers feel like they're part of something cool rather than performing a museum piece.

Who it's for

This octavo works best with singers who are comfortable with jazz idioms and who enjoy contemporary spiritual arrangements. It's ideal for middle school through adult choirs that want to program a traditional song with enough novelty and style to surprise an audience.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the waltz feel early in rehearsal. The three-beat pulse in a jazz waltz context can feel slippery; tap it out during warm-ups before you add lyrics.
  • Bring out the call and response sections as genuine conversation between your voice parts. Let each section own their moment rather than rushing to the next entrance.
  • If you're performing with a jazz combo, schedule at least one full run-through with the rhythm section before the concert so your choir can feel the pocket and adjust tempo instinctively.
  • The modulation into the final refrain is your peak moment. Build gradually through the transition without losing the relaxed groove; save intensity for the text, not rushing the tempo.

How to use it

Program this as a standalone moment in a concert built around American song traditions or spirituals, where its jazz waltz energy provides stylistic contrast. It also works beautifully as a finale or pre-finale piece that sends the audience out energized. The optional jazz combo accompaniment makes it an excellent choice if you're already collaborating with instrumentalists elsewhere in your season.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing jazz articulation and swing feel in SATB voicing
  • Call and response texture awareness and ensemble listening
  • Balancing soloistic moments with choral blend
  • Singing in a waltz meter (3/4) with contemporary rhythmic language
  • Adapting to harmonic movement during key modulation

You May Also Like