Product Description
The Water Is Wide (O Waly Waly)
A thought-provoking arrangement of a Traditional Scottish Folksong. Probably most widely known as "The Water Is Wide," it is also well known by its more ancient title: "O Waly Waly." The tune is also known as " When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," and "The Gift of Love."
Programming:
If you are looking for something with new contrapuntal and harmonic adventures for a Lenten prelude or a meditation during Holy Week, this will fit the bill. It could also work well in a recital setting because it fits well on the instrument, and provides a chance to show off long, sensitive musical phrases. Some of the figures in the descant verse are a bit more advanced so, this is for intermediate players rather than beginners.
Keep in mind these performance ideas:
1. It's a simple tune that needs to unfold in time, so don't rush it. A slight ritardando at the end of each verse may help if you want to delineate the verses further.
2. There is a lot of interesting counterpoint here, so be prepared to give and take on the dynamics more than what I have indicated.
3. The final verse is much slower and mysterious, and the dynamics are crucial - the quieter the better. Piano - the last chord: take your time on the roll, make it nice and slow.
Synopsis of the arrangement:
verse 1: Simple quiet duet with the melody in the solo instrument.
verse 2: Melody in the solo instrument accompanied by a 2-part canon in the piano.
verse 3: Melody in the piano in 4-part harmony.
verse 4: 3-part canon on the melody (with a free accompaniment voice).
verse 5: 2-part canon with a free accompaniment in the solo part
verse 6: Melody in octaves with free bass in octaves; descant in the solo part - loudest verse.
verse 7: Very quiet ending verse - Modulates down a fourth, melody in the solo part accompanied by simple quartal/quintal
piano clusters over bass chords that suggest submerged church bells.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.