Good music for young people, made with care

Writing for beginning players is like writing a haiku: it seems easy until you try to do it. With so many restrictions, it’s no wonder that music for young band all seems to sound alike. 

But limitations are the soul of creativity. With The Water is Wide, Kevin Krumenauer has made a beautiful new expression of an ancient melody that developing performers can play with confidence.

Listen: The Water is Wide by Kevin Krumenauer

2022  •  3 min.  •  Grade 1½

Share it with your students today

Buy now

“One kid described the music as feeling like she was sitting next to a river. I saw many excited smiles and the kids really seem to like it!”

Russell Branch
Band Director, Mendham (NJ) Township Middle School 

A beautiful edition with thoughtful features

Why should music for young band receive any less care and attention to detail than Beethoven symphonies?

This edition was prepared by master music engraver Matthew Maslanka to the highest standard. 

Bar numbers everywhere
Rehearsing is quick and easy with frequent rehearsal marks and big bar numbers on every bar. All the parts have every bar counted too.
123
Sometimes it's too high
Octave options allow players to choose the range that fits them.
8va
International accommodations
A full set of world parts let everyone play no matter what they’re used to reading. Eb Horn? Bb Bass in Treble Clef? Check.
They're your files
The PDF edition is unrestricted and un-watermarked. Enjoy the freedom to reprint parts as needed.
Let us do the printing
The print edition comes on 9 × 12 in., natural color, heavy stock, matte paper. It's easy to read under bright lights, feels great in your hand, and will last for years.
Bar numbers everywhere
Rehearsing is quick and easy with frequent rehearsal marks and big bar numbers on every bar. All the parts have every bar counted too.
123
Sometimes it's too high
Octave options allow players to choose the range that fits them.
8va
International accommodations
A full set of world parts let everyone play no matter what they’re used to reading. Eb Horn? Bb Bass in Treble Clef? Check.
They're your files
The PDF edition is unrestricted and un-watermarked. Enjoy the freedom to reprint parts as needed.
Let us do the printing
The print edition comes on 9 × 12 in., natural color, heavy stock, matte paper. It's easy to read under bright lights, feels great in your hand, and will last for years.

Written with love

The Water is Wide is an homage to Kevin’s longtime mentor David Maslanka.

Kevin Krumenauer is a serious(ly good) composer
He’s been writing for over 25 years and has had his music played around the world. Kevin taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music and now lives in New York City.
Honoring a legacy
Kevin Krumenauer studied with David Maslanka for over 20 years.

David’s wife Alison sung The Water is Wide to their young children. When David wrote a euphonium concerto for his son, he used that tune.

Kevin chose this melody to honor his mentor and to introduce it to a new generation.
Play with confidence
During and after writing the piece, Kevin got feedback from a wide variety of people: band directors from middle school to college, other composers, and young students.

He then play-tested it with several groups at different levels to sort the bugs out. You can give this work to second-year players and know they’ll be able to get around it.
In The Water is Wide, Kevin has celebrated those limitations that ensure the playability of the work by young ensembles. At the same time, he maintained the depth of expression that not only represents his style as a composer, but also honors the spirituality and importance of the piece as meaningful art that was so central to the work of David Maslanka, for whom the work is written in honor.

Matthew Marsit
Chair of Instrumental Studies, Boston Conservatory

The Water is Wide is good music for young people, made with care

Own it today in PDF or printed editions
Buy now

The Water is Wide is good music for young people, made with care

Own it today in PDF or printed editions
Buy now

Discover more music
from Maslanka Press