SKU: KN.9415

UPC: 822795094152.

Bursting with spirited exuberance and joy, this grade 2 arrangement combines the traditional English A Gallery Carol with the famous medieval German carol In Dulci Jubilo. Special features include buoyant hooked bowings, dramatic pizzicato chords and optional 8va notes in the 1st Violin part before the closing sforzando. Each set includes three copies of the 3rd Violin/Viola T.C. part and optional parts for piano and tambourine. Duration 2:10.

SKU: CF.YAS52

ISBN 9780825863608. UPC: 798408063603. 8.5 X 11 inches. Key: D major.

This is a striking and original piece that builds interest and momentum using a four note cello and bass ostinato. Arco and pizzicato contrasts of texture and off-beat accents and rhythms sustain interest in this unusual selection, which puts minimal musical resources to maximum use.
A Road Less Traveled is a musical journey based on four notes. The cellos and basses provide these notes in mm. 2 and 3. The piece explores some new compositional techniques for me, and in some sections can be considered minimalist. However, I constructed the piece in a very accessible manner. The individual rhythms create new composite rhythms when played together. It has a unique clockwork quality to it. The music morphs from arco to pizzicato at m. 49. The odd accents bring out some of the quirky quality to the music. A return to arco playing at m. 94 provides a recapitulation of the opening section. Upon return, some of the punchy music now becomes sustained for a dramatic climax. This piece was a real joy to work on, and illustrates “a road less traveled” in my compositional career.

About Carl Fischer Young String Orchestra Series

This series of Grade 2/Grade 2.5 pieces is designed for second and third year ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:
--Occasionally extending to third position
--Keys carefully considered for appropriate difficulty
--Addition of separate 2nd violin and viola parts
--Viola T.C. part included
--Increase in independence of parts over beginning levels