String Orchestra - Level 1 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.596378
Composed by From Southern Harmony. Arranged by Kristin Campbell. Folk,Sacred. Score and parts. 30 pages. Horsehair Music #4274707. Published by Horsehair Music (A0.596378).
The Flex Orchestra Series are arrangements that can flex to the instrumentation that is available in your context. This series was born out of a desire to have beginning players participate in worship and play along side more experienced players. These arrangements are written with a melody part in each instrument's clef. The melody part is the same from instrument to instrument with slight variations in register. Along with the melody part is a harmony part or ensemble part. Unlike the melody parts, each ensemble part is unique to that instrument. The piano accompaniment is the glue that holds it all together. This arrangement to be played as a solo with accompaniment, or any combination duet, trio, quartet or quintet with piano accompaniment. By having one or more instruments play the melody part, and then add any other instrument on their ensemble part.
The melody part is overall the easiest or simplest part. The ensemble parts can be a little more techincal. These techniques would include harder string crossings, and some position work.
This scoring flexiblity allows less-experienced players of any stringed instrument to play the melody part, and the more-experienced string players to play their instrument's ensemble part. This allows all levels of string players to play together any combination.
On Jordan's Stormy Banks, the American hymn tune, PROMISED LAND, dates back to the early 1800's. It is originally found in a hymnal that was used in the singing schools that were prevalent throughout the southern United States. This arrangement has a fiddle-tune like flavor and uses some open string double stops in an opening motif, hinting at its roots in the folk song tradition. The melody part is can be played in first position entirely. Your players are sure to have fun with the double-stops, finger slides, sounded glissandos and rhythmic patterns that are sure to have you tapping your toe.