Original Programmatic Music for High School Orchestra Wednesday, December 16, 2020
recommended by Megan W., Orchestra Specialist
Voyager by Soon Hee Newbold, Grade 2.5
Take flight through the soaring melodic lines of this bold work that lets your students’ imaginations run wild. Whether on the back of a hawk or on a journey to space, this energy-infused piece keeps all sections engaged rhythmically and melodically. A dynamic key change adds to the adrenaline rush. Thrilling!
TEACH: fast tempo, watching, low and high 2s, shifting
ORCHESTRATION: each part starts a theme and each echoes
PERFORMANCE: thematic and entertaining, new from Soon Hee Newbold
Insomnia by Peter Sciaino, Grade 3
“Insomnia” was inspired by the frustration and tension associated with a sleepless night. Using the Phrygian mode, “Insomnia” has wide stylistic and dynamic ranges, representing a range of emotion before ultimately coming to a dramatic finish. Stay awake with this cool new work for strings!
TEACH: counting, intonation jumps, accents, Phrygian mode
ORCHESTRATION: fast, tension, restless
PERFORMANCE: exciting, stylistic, dramatic
Hoedown Showdown by Neridah Oostenbroek, Grade 3
Get ready to have some fun with this energetic western-style romp! Showcasing a melody that weaves its way through every section, the piece also makes use of open string drones and syncopated rhythms, bringing the country-style flair to life. Outstanding and infectious!
TEACH: divisi, drones, syncopated rhythms, 3rd position in 1st violins
ORCHESTRATION: pass around a country/fiddle theme in all sections
PERFORMANCE: dance worthy
Dancing Waters by Sean O’Loughlin, Grade 3.5
“Dancing Waters” by Sean O’Loughlin evokes beautiful imagery of flowing water in this film-score like new work for string orchestra. Audiences will be captivated and your musicians will ask to play it again and again.
TEACH: 16th notes, pick ups in melody, shifting
ORCHESTRATION: fast moving parts, stand out parts for all
PERFORMANCE: film-score like, driving and visual
Shifting Sands (The Shifting Song) by Bob Phillips, Grade 2.5
Teach shifting with this beautiful melody by Bob Phillips. “Shifting Sands” is also perfectly suited for the concert stage. The moderate, lyric tempo provides students in the early stages of practicing shifts the time they need to make the shifts successfully. Musically, this piece is very accessible so students can focus on the shifts. Violins will practice 3rd position on the D, A, and E strings. Violas will practice 3rd position on the D and A strings. Cellos will practice 3rd and 4th positions on the D and A strings. Basses will practice 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions on the D and G strings. Shifts for all instruments are introduced by moving the first finger in a sliding (portamento) motion from 1st position up to 3rd position and back again, then progresses to shifting.
TEACH: shifting 1-3 with audible slides all parts
ORCHESTRATION: simple melody, lyrical tempo
PERFORMANCE: sweet sounding
Drive by Bruce Tippette, Grade 3
From its opening chords to its strong finish, “Drive” races forward, alternating between syncopated rhythms and soaring melodies. Beginning in the key of A minor, two opposing melodic patterns emerge. The use of silence becomes an effective change of pace as the piece modulates to B minor, recapping familiar motives to a lively finish with all forces at fortissimo!
TEACH: opposing melodic patterns, modulation, syncopation
ORCHESTRATION: silence adds space, soaring melodies with familiar motifs
PERFORMANCE: driving and exciting – finish fortissimo!
A Streak of Light by Kathryn Griesinger, Grade 3
A relentless 6/8 accompaniment drives this piece forward with exciting momentum. Intensity builds like the first piercing light on the morning horizon, flourishing toward a stately middle section that reflects the grandeur of glorious colors and spacious skies. Players with the melody should take care to sustain with a warm, ringing tone. The pizzicato accompaniment should also stay unrushed and steady. The following restatement of the fast opening theme soars to a triumphant finale.
TEACH: tone, steady tempo, 6/8
ORCHESTRATION: build in intensity
PERFORMANCE: colorful musicality
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About the Author:
Megan W., originally from Pittsburgh PA, is happy to call Columbus and Stanton’s Sheet Music “Home.” As a musician, Megan has played in marching and concert bands, youth orchestras, full orchestras, small ensembles, and a few choirs. Her interests include fiddling, reading, writing, martial arts and yoga.