
Heart In The Highlands By Stephen Chin
'Heart in The Highlands', inspired by Robert Burns, evokes Scotland's rugged beauty with pizzicato, harmonics, dotted rhythms, and drones.
The circus is thrilling! The Carousel waltz shares the melodic line. In Siberian Tigers, players can project a robust tone and imagine the majestic tigers. Happy-Sad Clowns contrasts major and minor tonalities.
1. Carousel
2. Siberian Tigers
3. Happy-Sad Clowns
For String Orchestra Grade 1
As the sound of trumpets fills the air, the crowd roars with excitement. The circus is a place of wonder and joy, where people of all ages come together to experience the thrill of the show. The Carousel, a waltz that shares the melodic line between its parts, is a simple yet elegant piece that teaches young musicians the art of playing off the beat. In Siberian Tigers, the strings of the instruments are struck with force to produce a robust tone that echoes the strength and majesty of the tigers that roam around in the minds of the players. Meanwhile, Happy-Sad Clowns contrasts the joyous tones of a major key with the melancholic notes of a minor key, taking the audience on an emotional journey through the familiar finger patterns of the players.
1. Carousel
2. Siberian Tigers
3. Happy-Sad Clowns
For String Orchestra Grade 1
'Heart in The Highlands', inspired by Robert Burns, evokes Scotland's rugged beauty with pizzicato, harmonics, dotted rhythms, and drones.
The music is filled with lively melodies and counter-melodies that dance around the orchestra. The middle section features a string quartet solo interrupted by tutti utterances. The work offers a wide range of textures, dynamics, and haunting tunes that will captivate both players and audiences alike.
For String Orchestra Grade 3.5
Feel the rush with this piece! The music's edgy rhythms and meter changes create a sense of urgency and desperation, like a frantic pursuit. A lyrical middle section offers a moment of respite before the thrilling journey resumes.
La Tempesta di Mare is the overture to Salieri's opera, Cesare in Farmacusa. It narrates the journey of the young Julius Caesar as he sails through a treacherous storm to Farmacusa, near Sicily. The plot is filled with pirates, gypsy lovers, and, of course, Roman gods, providing much entertainment for audiences of that time.
Grieg's music is rooted in Norwegian folk songs. The "Watchman's Song" has a ghostly section conveyed through tremolo. A melancholic waltz follows, evoking a troll's cave. The contrast of keys and playing styles can refine any ensemble.
1. The Watchman's Song
2. Waltz
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5
Dig Tree and The Elegy reflect Australia's early explorers' unfortunate fate, while Goin' Overland captures the excitement of exploring the outback. The latter features various string techniques that highlight the Australian essence of the music.
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5
Albeniz's piece was originally written for piano, showcasing Spanish passion and brilliance. It alludes to a legend from Asturias, with Moroccan influences. The use of string techniques adds intensity to this haunting work.
It's graded at level 3.5 for string orchestra.
No need to wait years to perform Grieg's "Holberg Suite" with your ensemble. This arrangement is true to the original but with less tricky figurations. It features off-string work, trills, accented quavers, light legato bowing, martele and pizzicato to make the performance sparkle!
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5