La Mariposa, or The Butterfly in English, gives students exposure to Latin music in the form of the Mambo. The Mambo is a syncopated style of music and dance that originated in Cuba in the early 1900s. Alternating between D major and D minor, the melodic material in La Mariposa is evenly distributed between the high and low strings. The easy optional percussion parts add great dimension to the Latin feel of this piece.
This classic work was adapted/extracted from a larger scored work that Joseph Haydn wrote while in the service of Prince Nicholas Esterhazy. The original work contained a number of wind parts that in this arrangement have been excluded, but this fine arrangement works beautifully nonetheless as a string-only work. Playing the Rondo-Finale will introduce your students to the well-proportioned pleasures of Classical music, as well as the rondo form. (3:22)
The “Spitfire” was a single-seat fighter airplane successfully used by the Allies in World War II against the German Luftwaffe. With its rhythmically-charged parts for every member of the orchestra and dynamic percussion parts, the composer has created an exhilarating musical evocation of the daily life of a fighter pilot taking part in the Battle of Britain. Use this exciting work to add some variety and “zing” to your orchestra concert! (3:10)
In this wonderfully evocative piece of music Bobrowitz describes a deep water dive to find a long lost city. This compelling musical journey conveys a sense of ever-deepening awe at the magical underwater seascape. All sections of the orchestra contribute to the melodic fabric of this unique musical journey. (4:16)
