Hand-picking cotton is a gruelling task. 19th-century rural Americans sang to support each other. This piece starts with different players for each bar, evoking the image. The "Praising Song" celebrates the end of a tough day. An elementary ensemble will shine playing the double quavers, pizzicati, and syncopated beats.
1. Cottonfield Calls
2. Praising Song
For String Orchestra Grade 1
Hand-picking cotton is known to be one of the most gruelling and physically demanding tasks humans can undertake. In the rural America of the 19th century, the labourers would sing across the field to support each other and make the task seem less daunting. The opening notes of this particular piece of music are played by a different musician in each bar, creating the feeling of a group of people working together in harmony. As the music progresses into the "Praising Song," one can almost hear the jubilant celebration of the end of a long and arduous day, with the workers singing, clapping, and stamping their feet in unison. The performance of this piece requires a high level of skill, with the elementary ensemble being called upon to execute difficult musical techniques such as double quavers, pizzicati, and syncopated beats, resulting in a truly sparkling and captivating performance.
1. Cottonfield Calls
2. Praising Song
For String Orchestra Grade 1
Vivaldi wrote many concertos for different instruments, including one for mandolin and strings. The composition's formal structure remains unaltered, but some intricate figurations have been tweaked. The music creates a dialogue between the orchestra's sections as they share the melody. The Baroque string crossings and harmonic progressions make the piece enjoyable to play.
For String Orchestra Grade 3
This music piece tells the legend of how the Kookaburra got its laugh. It was created for the Cooloola Shire Symphony Orchestra in Queensland, Australia, in collaboration with elders from the Nations in the area. The composition features a full orchestra, narrator, and didgeridoo. It's an engaging introduction to the orchestra for young listeners, with the didgeridoo blending well with the orchestra.
For Full Orchestra, Narrator and Didgeridoo Grade 4
Heavenly Lake in Tianshan Mountain, Xinjiang, China, has a myth about a goddess who overcame a demon. The playable piece features pentatonic melodies, lush harmonies, bracing rhythms, and intricate textures.
For String Orchestra (Grade 2)
1. Mirrors of Water
2. Urns of Fire
Ideal for a festival orchestra with players at different levels, this piece is based on the medieval melody "L'Homme Arme", depicting a sword-wielding warrior. The middle section features a violin solo as a lullaby reflecting the armed man's war experiences. The final section celebrates the armed man walking in the light of peace and liberty with the South African song "Simbayama".
For 4 string orchestras and untuned percussion - Grade 3.5, 2, 1.5 & 1
Australian summer holidays are magical! "Catamarans" captures the graceful movement of sailing vessels with wistful melodies. "Beach Party" is lively, depicting fun in the sand with driving quavers and unique textures. Both pieces feature harmonics and shifting in the first violins.
Featuring two pieces: Catamarans and Beach Party
Originally written for wind ensemble and later arranged for pianoforte, these charming movements have been carefully placed to give the sense of a fully integrated work. Some elements of this work are similar in vein to Mozart's famous "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik." Advanced intermediate players will enjoy the challenges of spiccato quavers, martele crotchets, measured tremolo, and lifted upbows, which are a must for developing precision and clarity in a more advanced string ensemble.
For String Orchestra Grade 3
Gobi Desert warriors, led by Genghis Khan, ride to China. The music's eighth notes, dissonant chords, and pounding melody vividly portray their might in battle. A calm pentatonic section shows them resting at night before moving mercilessly to the next fight.
