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Waterfall: SATB Choral Octavo

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Waterfall: SATB Choral Octavo

Waterfall: SATB Choral Octavo

Words and music by Carol Kelley

Item: 00-50313
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Description
Explore text painting and expression with this flowing original work inspired by nature. Symbolic writing places cascading voices over a trickling piano backdrop to illustrate a cleansing waterfall that brings "peace and blessing." A brief descant in the SSA version creates the same four-part texture heard in the mixed voicing. A lovely feature for your accompanist as well as your singers.

The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
  • Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
  • Part-predominant and accompaniment tracks
  • Printable sheet music (with a standard MakeMusic Cloud subscription)
  • Correlated rehearsal guides and performance notes
  • Rights to perform in a live or virtual setting

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Waterfall: SATB 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 Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081574837
SKU: 00-50313

More about this title

About the Composer: Carol Kelley

Carol Kelley

Carol Kelley grew up in Oregon and has spent her career working across composition, performance, and music education. She earned her BA in music education from George Fox University, where she pursued triple studies in vocal performance, piano, and composition. Her work has appeared with Alfred Music, Hal Leonard, and Broadman Press.

For more than 25 years, Kelley has been the accompanist for choirs and musical theater productions in Newberg, Oregon, and she continues to perform as pianist and vocalist in her church. Her deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, combined with her hands-on experience in the rehearsal room, shape her compositional voice and her understanding of what works for student and community ensembles.

Why we love this

Kelley's use of cascading voices to literally paint the image of falling water makes this piece a natural teaching tool for text painting without requiring complex harmonic language. The writing sits comfortably in the middle voices, giving singers something elegant to do while the piano part remains genuinely interesting for your accompanist. The brief descant in the SSA version solves a common programming challenge: you get the warmth of four-part writing no matter your choir's configuration.

What to expect

Serene and purposeful, with a gentle forward motion that mirrors the inevitable journey of water downward. The layered voices create depth and movement even though the harmonic language stays accessible, producing that satisfying moment when your choir realizes they've created something genuinely beautiful together.

Who it's for

Mixed and SSA choirs looking for a concert piece that teaches musical concepts through direct musical imagery. Works equally well in festival settings and community performances where emotional clarity matters more than technical virtuosity.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the cascading voice entries to suggest actual water movement; stagger your breath points so the texture flows continuously rather than stopping at phrase marks.
  • Balance the descant (in SSA) as a shimmer rather than a melody; it should enhance the texture without pulling focus from the main harmonic progression.
  • Work the piano part separately with your accompanist before full rehearsals. The 'trickling' figures need rhythmic precision and dynamic control to create the sonic environment the voices sit into.
  • Find the natural breath points within the cascading passages rather than fighting the text painting; singers will deliver better phrasing if you honor the architecture Kelley built in.

How to use it

Pair this with other nature-inspired texts to create a thematic concert set, or use it as a moment of stillness and reflection in a longer program of varied styles. It sits well in spring concerts or any setting where you want to show your choir's ability to blend and balance without demanding technical acrobatics.

Skills your students will build

  • text painting through voice leading and layered texture
  • independent voice part singing while maintaining ensemble blend
  • sustaining legit tone through longer phrases in comfortable tessitura
  • listening to and balancing harmonic color rather than pushing for volume

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