Oblivion String Orchestra
Jenette Bregantini
Arranged here for flexible soloist and strings, this haunting melody from Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla provides an impressive showcase for a violin, flute, or oboe soloist. Beautifully scored for string orchestra and carefully paced.
The idea of working with an orchestra came from a friend, and eventually, the band contacted Rasmus Puur, the conductor of the VHK String Orchestra, a famous youth orchestra who like doing crazy projects, and he immediately said yes!! None of the band had experience in writing string arrangements, so they drafted in Markus Robem, a young composer, who helped with the quite stunning arrangements.
The music drifts effortlessly, flowing beautifully with deep sounds that will fill any music person with joy from the beginning to the end. They choose three songs to reimagine, Terra Nullius, Skeleton Key and The Original Android and it just goes to show what can be done with a little bit of imagination and creative input from others outside of your immediate circle, though it does come across that the post-rock sound seems to lend itself to this type of project as it appears so fluid.
What has been created is something quite awesome, emotive and powerful, just listen to the softer, gentler parts of the final track The Original Android, it feels like a journey that we, the listener, are being pulled onto because of the hard work from all involved. More than a year after they started the project, they were playing in a gorgeously lit studio with cameras all around them capturing this moment forever. This genuinely deserves to be listened to by the masses as it is a work of art and should be appreciated by lots more people.
This piece cranks right from the start! Even your youngest players will sound full and strong on this well-written piece from composer Larry Clark. The work is set in E minor (but without any C naturals on the A string) with simple rhythms no more difficult than two repeated eighth notes. You will hear some biting dissonances and angular interjections to the flowing main theme. It is dramatic music for very beginning string students. They will want to play it again and again.
Aspirations is written for the youngest and least experienced of musicians, who have only had a short time on their instruments. This piece uses minimal material, including no more than two repeated eighth notes as the most difficult rhythm. It contains bold fanfare gestures, marcato melodic material, and a contrasting legato theme. Every section of the ensemble is featured in this surprisingly sophisticated, yet very attainable piece.
Chronicles is a bold fanfare piece from popular composer Larry Clark. Its majestic, strong style will make even the youngest of string players sound great. Simple three-part writing and contemporary harmonies make this piece a winner, and every section of the orchestra gets a chance to play some of the important melodic material.
A fanfare-like piece that makes even the youngest of players sound far more advanced than they are. The technical demands are very limited, but the music is bold and exciting for the players and audience alike. Another winner from Larry Clark!
Written for beginning string students, Larry Clark's Contemplation contains basic compositional techniques that students will be able to identify and learn from. It begins with a rich, melodic opening which highlights students' musicianship. This is then contrasted by the frolicking, uptempo section, which is a variation on the original musical material.
As the title implies, this piece is bold and aggressive and something that very young musicians will enjoy. Larry Clark knows how to write for beginning string players, and always with something fun and engaging to get them excited about the next step on their journey!
Subatomic is written for the youngest of string students. It uses only the first 6 notes of the D scale, with no more difficult rhythm than two repeated eighth notes. Plus, there are no long sustained notes, which can often be challenging for young players. What is amazing is how exciting this piece is, despite limited technical resources! Composer Larry Clark continues to find new and creative ways to stimulate beginning students, providing them an opportunity for early musical success. This is a winner!
A bold fanfare composition for the youngest of students. Larry Clark has a knack for writing music that sounds more sophisticated than it is technically to play. There are no faster rhythms than quarter notes in Supernova, but it will make your beginners sound great!
There is sometimes a lack of sensitive music at this grade level, which is why Twilight Smiling by Larry Clark is so great. Wonderful opportunities to teach expressive playing and phrasing, this lyrical work will be a hit at any concert throughout the school year.
As the title implies, the piece uses a lot of echo effects throughout. Based on the interval of a descending perfect fifth, Angel Echoes begins with a lush statement of the subtle "angel" theme, which is used throughout the piece and ultimately as the climactic material later in the work. Larry Clark uses the elements that have made his music so popular in this remarkable new work for developing ensembles.
In every great story there is always an antagonist, the character of opposing force who is central to the success of the story. Larry Clark has applied this concept to music in a new string orchestra piece, fascinating in sound and an excellent cross-curricular tie with English classes, musically illustrating the structure of a good story. This piece is aggressive and at times, purposely antagonizing. Designed with the youngest of players in mind, it works on simple repeated eighth note patterns as the foundation for the melodic material. As is typical in a Larry Clark piece, interesting parts are provided for all instruments, and everyone gets to play the melody.
With a heroic fanfare-like main theme and a dreamy secondary theme, this excellent concert opener is the perfect way to make an opening statement. The low strings will love showing off some power! Who would have guessed young musicians could sound so mature?!
An axiom is a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true. Make your orchestra sound mature with this bold piece that includes fanfare gestures, strong themes and contrasting lyrical music. A strong choice for festival performance.
A slice of Americana for young players, this new piece by Larry Clark features a pizzicato component as well as a spotlight on the cello section. This lush and reserved composition has all of the aspects that you have come to love in his works.
This transcription of a best-selling band work comes across very well for strings! The bold parallel harmonies, effective counterpoint and dramatic grand pauses, all come together as powerful string music. It's ideal for making a big impression at the easy level, or to pull together quickly for an encore
From the pen of Larry Clark, noted educational composer, comes this delightful work for young players. The piece features a stately feel typical of the Old West with smart tempo variations and a strong lyrical melody all based on D major patterns.
This piece features bold contemporary harmonies with simple rhythms and a light and uplifting feel that is sure to keep the interest of your students. All of the melodic and harmonic structures are based on the first 6 notes from the D Major scale giving the beginning student a manageable tonal and technical framework. Sure to be a hit at concerts or festivals!
This engaging original work is very effective, and has the flavor of another era while remaining contemporary. Bright tonalities give it a real country dance appeal, and underlying rhythms add pulse. An exceptional work!
Titled by the students of J. T. Lambert Middle School in East Stroudsburg, PA, which commissioned the original version for band, this brilliant, heavily accented piece emphasizes rhythmic alertness and attention to dynamic contrasts. Bold fanfare writing alternates with lyrical writing of considerable warmth and the spiccato style of playing is introduced.
This fun new ballad from composer Larry Clark is written perfectly for the young String Orchestra. Engaging parts and lines across the ensemble will make this one they ask to play over and over. Whether for contest/festival or regular performance, Emerald Sky has something for everyone.
Epic is an intense composition for the developing string orchestra that is sweeping and catchy--all of the thumbprints that have made Larry Clark's music so popular for young groups. Epic has a contagious melody that the students will want to play again and again.
In Greek, the word ethos is used to describe the character and guiding beliefs or ideals that distinguish a community, nation or idea. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence the listener's emotions, behaviors, and morals--a strong statement for the power of music. Larry Clark's dynamic new composition in a distinctive American style will have a positive effect on your students' musical ethos.
Expectations is dedicated to Larry Clark's young son. It was written with thoughts of his playful nature, which can be heard throughout the piece, while the lush, emotional opening depicts the composer's awe at being a parent to a wonderful little boy. This touching piece will stretch the musicianship of young string students, but it will be worth the journey.
Written to sound like background music for a fairytale cartoon, Larry Clark delivers again with a tuneful musical narrative that students will love. Fable has an energetic and upbeat main theme, followed by a beautiful and cinematic slower theme. This would be a perfect piece with which to showcase your orchestra at a contest or festival performance.
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