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.
Inspired by "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", this festival piece is for eight-string orchestras and percussion. It starts with a wall of sound, then a mournful melody, and a lively jig-like section. Only Orchestra A needs to play percussion.
For eight string orchestras and percussion - Level 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1
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
The Cliffs of Moher, rising about 200 meters above the Atlantic on Ireland's west coast, are home to many birds and sea life, such as grey seals and dolphins. In this work, I aimed to capture the feeling of sea spray, the beauty of green pastures, and the vibrant atmosphere of nearby towns, using musical textures such as pizzicato, sustained notes, bass melodies, and a reflective violin solo.
Debussy was inspired by mysticism and exotic items. He combined Gregorian chant with Eastern influences in "Funeral Urn" and showcased his unique style with "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair". Students will enjoy the challenging rhythms and harmonies in these works.
1. Funeral Urn
2. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
For String Orchestra Grade 4
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
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767) is recognized as the most prolific composer of all time. He composed over 3000 pieces during his lifetime, including 1043 cantatas, 46 passions, 40 operas, over 100 concertos, 700 orchestral suites, and volumes of chamber music. The following 4 movements exemplify his elegant style and ability to craft appealing melodies, making them an excellent resource for ensembles to practice useful string techniques.
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5
David Maddick compiled “Chinwagging” from the most popular tunes in “Thirty Concert Pieces” by Everything String. The piece teaches fundamental string techniques to young ensemble members, such as legato bowing, string crossing, re-taking, and right/left-hand pizzicato. It’s an enjoyable and solid introduction to foundational concepts.
For String Orchestra Grade 1
