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Wade in the Water: SAB Choral Octavo

$3.50 USD
$3.50 USD
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Wade in the Water Cover Image
Wade in the Water: SAB Choral Octavo

Wade in the Water: SAB Choral Octavo

Arr. Joanna Forbes L'Estrange

Level: Elementary

Item: 12-0571538177
$3.50
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Description
Wade in the Water is a lively and infectious spiritual. Its features include a call-and-response texture, jazz "scat" vocalization and finger clicks on beats 2 and 4 of the measure. This arrangement remains true to the spirit of Eva Cassidy's well-loved version, adapting the instrumental improvisation on the recording to create a fun scat section. Listen to Eva Cassidy's version and aim for the same passion and commitment, allowing the voices as much freedom of expression as is possible in a choral texture.

Faber Choral Singles offer a series of beautifully crafted arrangements in a diversity of musical styles for today's choirs. From Broadway, pop and folk to spirituals, gospel and original works, the Faber Choral Singles series guarantees the perfect repertoire for every occasion.

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Additional Details
Series: Faber Choral Singles
Publisher: Faber Music
ISBN10: 0-571-53817-7
ISBN13: 978-0-571-53817-1
UPC: 9780571538171
SKU: 12-0571538177
Instrumentation: with Piano

More about this title

About the Arranger: Joanna Forbes

Joanna Forbes is a choral arranger known for bringing contemporary interpretations to traditional material. Her work across the Faber Choral Singles series demonstrates a gift for honoring the source material while making it accessible and engaging for singers at all levels.

Why we love this

Forbes captures the conversational energy of Eva Cassidy's interpretation without losing the spiritual's roots in call-and-response tradition. The scat writing feels organic rather than tacked on, and the finger clicks on 2 and 4 give singers a rhythmic anchor that keeps the ensemble locked while allowing individual voices to breathe.

What to expect

Warm, playful, and undeniably swinging. The scat vocalization adds a jazz sensibility that feels modern without erasing the spiritual's emotional core. Finger clicks and call-and-response create a conversation between singers that invites joy and connection.

Who it's for

Directors looking for accessible spirituals with contemporary vitality will find this arrangement opens doors for singers to explore expressive, improvised singing within a structured ensemble setting. It works equally well for choirs discovering scat technique for the first time and for ensembles ready to push their interpretive range.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study Eva Cassidy's recording before rehearsals begin. Note where her voice plays with timing and phrasing, then encourage your singers to find similar freedom within the choral texture.
  • Establish the finger clicks early and lock them in as a group. They're not decoration; they're the heartbeat that holds the scat section together.
  • Let the call-and-response sections breathe. Resist the urge to fill every silence; the back-and-forth is what makes the piece infectious.
  • Balance the scat vocalization so it sits alongside rather than under the harmonic voices. This isn't background texture; it's a conversation.

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener or closer where its energy can lift the room. It pairs well with other spirituals arranged in contemporary styles or stands alone as a statement about how traditional music continues to evolve.

Skills your students will build

  • Call-and-response singing and listening
  • Scat vocalization and improvisation within harmonic structure
  • Rhythmic precision with percussive body sounds (finger clicks)
  • Stylistic interpretation informed by recorded reference performances

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