Wade in the Water: Choral SoundTrax CD

Name: Wade in the Water: Choral SoundTrax CD
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-48411
Price: 29.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Traditional Spiritual / arr. Russell Robinson

Item: 00-48411

$29.99

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A bluesy rhythmic motive stacks up across voices, creating a compelling introduction and scattered interludes for this hip interpretation of the African-American spiritual. Call-and-response verses give individual sections a chance to shine, and a brief descant plus some optional divisi add that final flourish. A great teaching piece for 2- and 3-part choirs.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

UPC: 038081552347

SKU: 00-48411

More about this title

About the Arranger: Russell Robinson

Russell Robinson is an Emeritus Professor of Music Education at the University of Florida whose influence extends far beyond his home institution. Over a career spanning decades, he has guest conducted and presented at festivals, conferences, and honor choirs across six continents, leading ensembles in some of North America's most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center.

Robinson's scholarly and creative output is substantial. With more than 500 publications to his name, he has written choral compositions, arrangements, instructional materials, and articles that serve music educators across multiple levels. He served as Associate Dean of the UF College of the Arts and held leadership roles in both the Florida Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education, reflecting his commitment to the profession itself.

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Why we love this

Robinson takes a rhythmic approach to this spiritual that feels contemporary without erasing its roots. The stacked melodic motives create immediate energy and offer natural ways to differentiate voices, making it genuinely useful for developing choirs while keeping rehearsal time focused on musicality rather than complexity.

What to expect

Hip and grounded. The blues-inflected rhythmic motive gives the piece momentum and swagger, while the spiritual's inherent soul remains present throughout. Individual voice moments break up the texture, keeping energy high while the descant finale provides a satisfying harmonic lift.

Who it's for

Developing 2- and 3-part choirs ready to explore sacred repertoire with rhythmic sophistication. This works especially well for directors seeking pieces that allow younger singers to experience African-American spiritual traditions with contemporary arranging sensibility.

How to get the most out of it

Anchor the introductory rhythmic motive with your rhythm section before layering in the voices. Each entrance should land with precision so the stack builds cleanly rather than sounding cluttered.
Shape the call-and-response verses to emphasize the dialogue between sections. The contrast between full ensemble and solo voice moments gives you natural dynamic and textural variety.
Prepare the descant separately in the sections that own it. Have singers hear how it sits against the main melody so intonation stays centered when both parts sound together.

How to use it

Pair this with other spirituals to build a thematic concert around the African-American choral tradition, or use it as a contemporary anchor piece in a program that traces American sacred music. The recorded accompaniment makes it accessible for concerts earlier in the rehearsal cycle when polished ensemble singing matters more than independence from the track.