J. Michael Lunsford Middle School String Assessment Study Guide PANTHER STRINGS ­ VBODA GRADE 2 HONOR AND GLORY, Soon Hee Newbold Honor and Glory is dedicated to the brave men and women in our police force, fire departments, and military who risk their lives to protect, rescue those in need, and uphold our freedom. The piece should have a grand and majestic feel, so the tempo should not be too fast. All melodic lines ar lyrical and very legato, with long phrases. Eighth notes may be played either legato or short with slight separation. Bring out the voices with the melodies and emphasize crescendos and decrescendos. Approx. Performance Time = 2:10 Major Key of D Major ­ 2 sharps in the key signature = F# and C# D
E
F#
G
A
B
C#
D Time Signature is in 4/4 ­ the quarter note gets the pulse Accidentals ­ notes that are not in the original key signature m.35 C natural in violin 2, violin 3 and viola m.35 F natural in viola, cello and bass m.39 C natural in violin 2, violin 3 and viola m.39 F natural in viola, cello and bass m.42 C natural in violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, and bass m.44 C natural in violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, and bass m.55 ­ 56 and m.59 ­ 60 C natural in violin 2, violin 3, cello and bass Dynamics and Bowing Techniques p ­ piano means soft so use a little amount of bow mf ­ mezzo forte means medium loud so use at least half of your bow f ­ forte means loud use a lot of bow weight ff ­ fortissimo means very loud use a lot of bow and a lot of bow weight crescendo means to get louder so add weight to the bow or use more bow decrescendo means to get softer so use less weight to the bow or use less bow brush stroke means to use a little bow near the balance point, a gentle brushing motion m.18 violin and violas use a brush stroke AND m. 53 violins use a brush stroke bow slur ­ means to connect the bow smoothly from one note to the next, two different pitches m.46, m.52 and m.60 in violin 1 tie ­ means to connect the bow smoothly between 2 notes of the same pitch m.5­6, m.9­10, m.11­12, m.27­28, m.47­48, m.63­64 in violin 1, violin 2, violin 3, and viola m.21­22, m.23­24, m.63­64 in cello and bass Important Markings and Meanings Down Bow = Up Bow = Bow Circle = ‘ (m.17) Pizz = pizzicato means to pluck the string (m.53 violin 3, viola, cello, and bass) Arco = means to use the bow (m.61 violin 3, viola, cello and bass) Rit.= ritardando means to slow down and watch the leader ST. ANTHONY CHORALE, Traditional, after Franz Josef Haydn, arr. Sandra Dackow This chorale is several hundred years old and was included in a divertimento by Haydn and as the basis of a set of variations by Brahms. This arrangement can be performed entirely in first position by the upper strings, while requiring several extensions of the cellos and several notes in half position for the basses. This piece is dedicated to the New Jersey ASTA (American String Teachers Association) Summer Conference Junior Orchestra, 1987. Approx. Performance Time = 2:00 Major Key of G Major ­ 1 sharp in the original key signature = F# G
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G Time Signature is in 2/2 or cut time ­ the half note gets the pulse Accidentals ­ notes that are not in the original key signature m.3 and m.8 D# in cello and bass m.4 C# in cello and bass m.6 G# in cello and bass m.12 C# in violin 3 and viola m.17 and 21 C# in cello and bass Dynamics and Bowing Techniques p ­ piano means soft so use a little amount of bow mf ­ mezzo forte means medium loud so use at least half of your bow f ­ forte means loud use a lot of bow weight ff ­ fortissimo means very loud use a lot of bow and a lot of bow weight crescendo means to get louder so add weight to the bow or use more bow decrescendo means to get softer so use less weight to the bow or use less bow portato ­ double up bows like in O Come, Little Children m.4 in violin 3 and violas m.9 and m.22 in violin 2, violin 3, viola, cello and bass bow slur ­ means to connect the bow smoothly from one note to the next, two different pitches m.10 in violin 1, violin 3, and viola m. 18 in violin 1, violin 3, and viola tie ­ means to connect the bow smoothly between 2 notes of the same pitch m.5 in violin 1, violin 2, violin 3, and viola m.10 in violin 2 Important Markings and Meanings Down Bow = l l
Up Bow = V
Bow Circle = ‘ m.10 violin 3 and viola Bow Lift = ‘ m. 28 all instruments Pizz = pizzicato means to pluck the string (beginning cello and bass) Arco = means to use the bow (m.6 cello and bass) Repeat Signs = go back to the beginning, or go back to the repeat signs m.10 repeat back to beginning AND m.29 repeat back to m.11 SAHARA CROSSING, Richard Meyer Take a trip on a desert caravan in this fun and exciting piece, written to introduce the notes E flat and B flat. You will love the Far Eastern harmonic minor sound, complete with bouncing cello/bass accompaniment and parts for tambourine and finger cymbols. Simple, yet very mature sounding, Sahara Crossing is a great piece for accidentals and alternate fingerings. Approx. Performance Time = 2:50 Minor Key of G Harmonic Minor ­ 1 sharp in the original key signature = F# G
A
Bb
C
D
Eb
F#
G Time Signature is 4/4 ­ the quarter note gets the pulse Accidentals ­ notes not in the original key signature Bb’s and Eb’s all over the place! C#’s m.22 and after m.35 in violin 1 Important Markings and Meanings pp ­ pianissimo means very soft so we should hardly hear you p ­ piano means soft so use a little amount of bow mp ­ mezzo piano means medium loud so add a bit more bow f ­ forte means loud use a lot of bow weight crescendo means to get louder so add weight to the bow or use more bow decrescendo means to get softer so use less weight to the bow or use less bow accents = > means to use a lot of bow weight at the beginning of the bow stroke m.25 all instruments m.43, m.45 m.47 in violin 1, violin 2, violin 3 and viola m.19 in cello and bass m. 26 and m.69 ­ end all instruments have pizz. accents so pluck harder left hand pizz. = + means to use the left hand to pluck the string m.62 in bass bow slur ­ means to connect the bow smoothly from one note to the next, two different pitches m.16 in violin 1 and violin 2 m.20 and m.24 in violin 1 m.40 in violin 1 and violin 2 m.44 and m.48 in cello and bass tie ­ means to connect the bow smoothly between 2 notes of the same pitch m.35­36 and m.36­37 in violin 1 m.52­53, m.54­55, m.56­57 in violin 1 m.66­68 in violin 1, violin 2, violin 3, and viola Bow Circle = ‘ m.10, m.18, m.34, m.42, m.51 in violin 1, violin 2, violin 3, and viola D.S. al Coda means to repeat back to the sign at m.27 To Coda means after you play m.40 you jump to the big sign at the CODA m.64 Coda is the final section at the very end, m.64 to the end K. Michael Lunsford Middle School String Assessment Study Guide TIGER STRINGS ­ VBODA GRADE 3 THE BLESSING, words and music by Brendan Graham and David Downes, arr. Longfield Originally recorded by CELTIC WOMAN Approx. Performance Time = 3:35 (with optional repeat) Major Key of G Major ­ 1 sharp in the original key signature = F# G
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G Time Signature is 4/4 ­ the quarter note gets the pulse Accidentals ­ notes that are not in the original key signature m.1, 3, 17, 18 F natural in the violin 2 part m.10, 27 F natural in violin 1 m.18 B flat in violin 2, violin 3, viola, cello and bass m.32 F natural in cello and bass Important Markings and Meanings p ­ piano means soft so use a little amount of bow mp ­ mezzo piano means medium loud so add a bit more bow mf ­ mezzo forte means medium loud so use at least half of your bow f ­ forte means loud use a lot of bow weight crescendo means to get louder so add weight to the bow or use more bow decrescendo means to get softer so use less weight to the bow or use less bow legato ­ to play smoothly with the bow (m.2 violin and violas) fermata ­ to hold until the leader motions to go on (m.6, 8, 10, 14, 16 all instruments) ritardando ­ (rit.) to slow down (m.31, 34 all instruments) rubato ­ to play expressively out of tempo (at the beginning) tenuto ­ to emphasize the note in a legato or smooth bowing style (m.30 all instruments) DANNY BOY, arranged by Harry Alshin The Great Irish Love Song. Approx. Performance Time = 3:00 Major Key of D Major ­ 2 sharps in the key signature = F# and C# D
E
F#
G
A
B
C#
D Time Signature is 4/4 ­ the quarter note gets the pulse Accidentals ­ notes that are not in the original key signature m.1 C natural in violin 2 and alternate violin m.5 G# in violin 3 and viola m.15 C natural in violin 2 and alternate violin m.15 A# (same as Bb) in violin 3 and viola m.21 G# in violin 3 and viola m.31 C natural in violin 2 m.31 A# (same as Bb) in violin 3 and viola Important Markings and Meanings p ­ piano means soft so use a little amount of bow mp ­ mezzo piano means medium loud so add a bit more bow mf ­ mezzo forte means medium loud so use at least half of your bow f ­ forte means loud use a lot of bow weight crescendo means to get louder so add weight to the bow or use more bow decrescendo means to get softer so use less weight to the bow or use less bow fermata ­ to hold until the leader motions to go on (last two measures all instruments) Bow Circle = ‘ m.35 all instruments tenuto ­ to emphasize the note in a legato or smooth bowing style m.14 violin 1, 2, 3, viola m.26­28 violin 1, 2, 3, viola and alternate violin m.30­31 violin 1, 3 and alternate violin CONTRASTS IN E MINOR, Francis L. Feese For string orchestra. Please note that there are NO measure numbers in your part. Please pencil in measure numbers first before using this study guide so that you can refer to the correct measure. Approx. Performance Time = 3:45 Minor Key of E Minor ­ 1 sharp in the original key signature = F# natural minor E
F#
G
A
B
C
D
E harmonic minor E
F#
G
A
B
C
D#
E melodic minor E
F#
G
A
B
C#
D#
E E
D
C
B
A
G
F#
E Time Signature goes from 4/4 to 3/4 to 2/4 ­ quarter note gets the pulse AND 6/8 ­ dotted quarter note gets pulse Accidentals ­ notes that are not in the original key signature m.6 and 8 D# and B flat in 3rd violin and viola m.14 C# in cello m.15­18 D#, C#, D#, C# in cello and bass m.20 and 22 C# in cello m.28 and 30 C# in cello m.36 and 37 D# and B flat in 3rd violin and viola m.42 D# in violin 2 m.49 ­ 53 F natural, E flat, B flat, A flat, G# in all instruments m.55 and 57 D# and C# in violin 2 m.57, 58 F natural in cello m.59 ­ 63 B flat, E flat in all instruments m.65 A# in violin 2 m.66 C# in violin 3 and viola m.67 G# in violin 2 m.69 F natural in bass m.74 and 76 E flat, B flat in violin 2, 3, viola, cello and bass Important Markings and Meanings Accents = > play with added bow weight and speed Legato ­ play with a very smooth bow (m.36) Div. or Divided means to divide with your stand partner (inside plays bottom, outside plays top) Pui means more (m.41, pui forte means more loudly) Fermata (m.42 all instruments) means to hold until the conductor stops you Dolce means sweet, sweetly (m.43) Mosso means motion (m.49 pui mosso ­ more motion) Rit. or Ritardando means to slow down (m.54) A Tempo means at the original tempo from the beginning (m.55) Poco a poco accel. e cresc. means “little by little get faster and louder” (m.61 ­ 63) Pizz or pizzicato means to pluck Arco means to use the bow