Port Fairy and the Twelve Apostles are two of Australia's most scenic places. The Gentle Boats at Port Fairy plays Irish music, while Storm over the Twelve Apostles depicts the fury of Mother Nature on the stone formations by the southern coast.
Australia's scenic beauty is truly unmatched, and Port Fairy and the Twelve Apostles are two of the most picturesque places that the country has to offer. Port Fairy is a charming village with a peaceful atmosphere, characterized by its blue stone cottages, rock walls, and fishing boats. The enchanting musical ensemble, The Gentle Boats at Port Fairy, delights all with its wistful melodies, tinged with an Irish flavour. On the other hand, Storm over the Twelve Apostles is a powerful musical work that vividly captures the awe-inspiring sight of Mother Nature's fury unleashed on the magnificent stone formations that majestically rise up from the ocean on the southern coast.
Stephen Chin, an Australian composer and teacher, is currently the Principal String Teacher at Brisbane Grammar School. He has composed numerous educational pieces as well as compositions for student string orchestras.
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.
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
Australia's National Anthem is a source of pride for Australians. We offer the first verse thoughtfully, with a piano part for accompaniment. A major key suits most voices. Great for school assemblies. Suitable for Grade 2 String Orchestra.
We all love our pets, and each day brings new adventures! “Presto Puppies” features rising scale patterns and surprising dissonances, while “Cantabile Kitties” captures the subdued essence of our feline friends with major seventh intervals that evoke a kitten yawning. “Con Brio Birdies” portrays birds’ chatter through repeated quavers and gentle dissonances. The suite also showcases various techniques, including harmonics and different pizzicato styles.
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!
1. Busy Bikes
2. Sanpan in the Clouds
3. Elephants and Fleas
4. It's Raining Diamonds
5. Very Dark Elves
6. Tibetan Trinkets
7. King Bruce's Spider
8. Nullarbor
9. Dragon Crusher
10. Magical Mandolines
11. Fuji
12. Ice Train
For String Orchestra Grade 1
