Open Your Ears! Get Into the Music! Listen!
Here's great way to study your music.
Some links require the RealPlayer program to use
this page. It's a free download at real.com.
So sit back, take out your sheet music, listen to the excerpts, and follow
along with the audio track. Then, take out your instrument and finger or
play along. What can you call this activity now?
Don't forget to record this time on your Practice Card!
Audio Downloads
This work requires only open strings and first finger only! (The bass will
need 2nd finger briefly in the last movement.) The three movements are: Rain
Dribs; Little Japanese Girl and Autumn Rhumba. There's also a very handy set
of preparatory exercises and warmups to help your students.
First Finger Suite
This will be the hit of your string orchestra's first performance! As the
pun in the title suggests, it uses only the notes of their first D major
scale and remains pizzicato throughout. Call and response and dynamic
changes set the stage for your students to really make music out of this
one.
Scaling Mount Pizzicato
A true concert work for players in the first year of beginning instruction!
This ominous-sounding work offers young string players the experience of
performing a work that sounds harder than it is, without technically
demanding parts. Powerful dissonant harmonies and a pulsating rhythm create
a feeling of power and excitement!
Defender of Time
This accessible arrangement of Thomas Morley's familiar madrigal Now Is the
Month of Maying is a choice introduction to the Renaissance genre. Based on
the close 4-part vocal harmony popular at the time, it's an ideal tool to
help students focus on pitch and rhythmic contrasts. A definite cornerstone
for your library!
An Elizabethan Madrigal
Orchestras will sound full and mature with this terrific piece, based on an
old English folksong.
Dabbling in the Dew
Here's a delightful "tuning" piece!
Tune a Rumble
A spirited example of the French Baroque sound! This Mouret work comes from
the same suite as his Rondeau used as the theme to "Masterpiece Theater."
With terraced dynamics and light detache bowings, this is piece is ideal for
any group at the easy level, or as a quick study for those at the medium-
easy level.
Fanfare Allegro
Rustic Dance
This exciting work does wonders with the full spectrum of sounds available
to string orchestras; spiccato, col legno (with the stick), harmonics,
tremolo, and more. And these effects are there to serve the musical idea,
which is an exciting minor mode theme reminiscent of a movie soundtrack.
This is one piece your orchestra will ask to play again and again.
Eclipse
All the excitement of a Hungarian dance is included in this fun and exciting
work! The title refers to the clever melody that is chased around various
sections of the ensemble using different performance techniques. Easy to
play harmonics add flair as your group tears through a whirlwind of styles
in a continuing pursuit, before the work calms only to surprise the audience
with a final solitary outburst. Lots of fun!
The Chase
Other Resources