Stephen Chin admires the power of earth-moving equipment and the creativity of humans who push boundaries in the sciences and arts. He likens their groundbreaking efforts to the driving force found in the key of G minor, characterised by strong themes and the frequent use of downbows.
Stephen Chin, "I am always astounded with the power of earth moving equipment. I am also so impressed with humans who in exploring new territory whether in the Sciences or Arts, break new ground. The arresting key of G minor, the strong themes and the incessant use of downbows suggests the driving force of these kinds of ground breakers."
These quirky pieces are trinkets that can spark young musicians' imaginations. They cover many techniques, such as pizzicato, staccato, harmonics, and rapid eighth notes, which can help beginning orchestras build their skills in a fun way. The memorable tunes often shared around the orchestra will indeed have your students begging for more!
After the snowy start, climbers get to work. The fast melody depicts their chiselling on an icy rock face. A calm middle section shows the view from the top before the chiselling continues down. Younger players will love this energetic piece with catchy tunes and strong harmonies.
The Irish Blessing has been an inspiration for generations. This three-movement work for strings, SSAA choir, and optional bagpipes will make an impact on your audience.
The musette is a small French bagpipe that gained popularity in Louis XIV's time. It has a consistent G note for beginners. The "Air" is a beautiful tune from Handel's opera "Rinaldo". The set ends with a jolly bourree by the prolific composer Georg Philipp Telemann.
The Wars of the Roses was a conflict between Lancaster and York from 1455 to 1487. Composer Walter Frye wrote music during this time, including "Alas, Alas, Alas is my Chief Song," which inspired this Fantasia. The piece depicts the storms of battle and blends antiquity with contemporary style.
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.
"Two pieces, one idea: work hard, play hard. "The Volga Boatmen" has a shared melody and well-crafted counter-melodies. "Two Guitars" is fun and infectious, exploring spiccato quavers."
