Teaching Pieces for High School Orchestra Monday, January 04, 2021
recommended by Megan W., Orchestra Specialist
Create lesson plans around these titles. Attack accents, style, and tempo changes while learning new techniques like Bariolages – to play an open string every other note!
Condor Flats by Sean O’Loughlin, Grade 2.5
“Condor Flats” is a wonderful new work in overture form for string orchestra. Perfect for all concert occasions or festival adjudication, there are lots of teachable moments in this one. Expressive playing, as well as sections of delicate articulations and sections to stretch the dynamic range of your ensemble, makes this a winner.
TEACH: string crossing, 5th interval, overture form
ORCHESTRATION: accented and lyrical within different parts
PERFORMANCE: expressive playing
Desert Winds by Tyler Arcari, Grade 2.5
After traveling out west in America, composer Tyler Arcari was intrigued by the rugged life of the deserts and canyons. When you stand still, the wind across the flat earth sings an eerie tune. This new soundscape is the composer’s attempt to put this idea into sound!
TEACH: accents, pizzicato, accidentals
ORCHESTRATION: tempo changes, solos
PERFORMANCE: variety in mood
Greater Than… by Brian Balmages, Grade 1-3.5
Commissioned by the National String Project Consortium, this gorgeous lyrical work can be performed alone as an intermediate level piece, or with multi-level supplemental parts (available separately) for beginning and developing string students. Orchestrated to celebrate inclusion and diversity, the multi-level option is designed to sound far “greater than” the intermediate version alone. Not your traditional festival orchestra piece by any means.
TEACH: multi-level piece, virtual ensemble piece, vibrato
ORCHESTRATION: beginner parts available separately and different from harder parts, 3 levels of parts
PERFORMANCE: emotionally moving to sound “greater than…”
Ironwork by Ted Allen, Grade 3
The title “Ironwork” alludes both to the genre of heavy metal music and to the art of blacksmithing, an ancient craft associated with the medieval accoutrements of heavy metal bands. The driving unison riff that opens “Ironwork” is actually a left hand finger exercise in the Locrian mode. It takes everyone in the ensemble to make this rocker burn; each section of the ensemble takes its turn playing melodies, riffs, and ostinatos. The use of the Locrian and Phrygian modes in D and G provide students with a “low one” finger pattern workout and there’s even some basic bariolage for the second violins and violas.
TEACH: low 1st finger, Locorian and Phyrigian modes
ORCHESTRATION: bariolage in 1st and 2nd violins (playing an open string in between each note)
PERFORMANCE: heavy metal riffs and alluding to blacksmiths
Melodie D’Amour, Op. 600 (Melody of Love) by Hans Engelmann/arr. Robert Longfield, Grade 2.5
Beautiful, romantic music, originally composed for piano, “Melodie D’Amour” became the basis of a hit popular song in the 1950’s and 60’s. Now the original version is available in an arrangement for string orchestra. A contrasting middle section makes “Melodie D’Amour” an excellent choice for a lyrical contest piece. Elegant!
TEACH: Romantic style
ORCHESTRATION: lyrically challenging in middle
PERFORMANCE: popular hit in the 50’s and 60’s
Maelstrom by Katie O’Hara LaBrie, Grade 3
This exciting piece starts with a treacherous storm motif that acts as the undercurrent to a musical storm containing quotes from Smetana’s “Die Moldau,” Saint-Saëns’s “Carnival of the Animals,” and a traditional Irish sea chanty. Some shifting is required in first violin, cello, and bass and all parts include accidentals and dramatic dynamic changes. Developing players will refine articulation skills, explore a variety of rhythms in 6/8, and expand their chromatic and dynamic horizons in the familiar key of E minor.
TEACH: triplets, slurs, E minor, shifting, accidentals
ORCHESTRATION: 6/8, percussive rhythm
PERFORMANCE: recognizable themes
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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.