A Fiddler's Fancy: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

A Fiddler's Fancy: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: A Fiddler's Fancy: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-40505
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-40505

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Full of educational opportunities for every section, this two-movement work has an old-fashioned folk music sound. "Wisteria Waltz" is lush and legato while "Fig's Frolic" is patterned after the energy of cute but hungry little dog. Two contrasting gems! (3:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 124

UPC: 038081485706

SKU: 00-40505

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching strings across elementary, middle, and high school levels in California public schools. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, he transformed a program of 29 students into a thriving ensemble of 200 while simultaneously overseeing the district's elementary string curriculum. His work extends beyond the classroom: he directed the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, taking ensembles to perform in New York, Washington D.C., Vienna, Australia, and Canada.

As a composer and arranger, Meyer has placed over 190 works in print and spent 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company. He co-authored the String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings, both widely adopted by string programs nationwide. In 2009, he created the "Giving Bach" program at his school, an initiative that gained national recognition for using interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved student populations throughout Southern California. Meyer remains active as a guest conductor and clinician, having led masterclasses at the A.S.T.A. National Conference, the Texas Orchestra Directors' Association Conference, and string workshops at Ohio State University and other major institutions.

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Why we love this

Meyer writes for student orchestras with genuine understanding of what works in the rehearsal room. The two-movement structure gives you built-in contrast without demanding advanced technique, and the folk-inflected material engages players who might otherwise check out during more abstract concert fare. The pedagogical payoff across all sections means no one sits passively while the violins carry the load.

What to expect

The opening movement wraps you in warm, singing lines that ask for genuine lyrical commitment; there's nothing thin or apologetic about the texture. When 'Fig's Frolic' arrives, the energy shifts to something light and almost mischievous, like watching something small and eager dart through a room.

Who it's for

Grade 2.5 string orchestras seeking repertoire that develops musicianship without overwhelming technical demands. Directors programming concerts that mix traditional fare with contemporary teaching pieces will find two movements that engage audiences and students alike.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the legato texture in 'Wisteria Waltz' by establishing a consistent vibrato standard across each section; ask players to think about sustaining color rather than volume.
Anchor 'Fig's Frolic' with a crisp articulation from the bass line; this energetic movement needs rhythmic clarity to land its character without rushing.
Record a sectional run-through early in rehearsals and play it back for your students; hearing themselves as an ensemble builds ownership of the sound Meyer is after.
Shape the transitions between movements deliberately in rehearsal; give students language for the shift from lyrical to playful so the contrast reads intentionally rather than abruptly.

How to use it

Pair this as a centerpiece for an early-season concert when you need pieces that sound substantial but won't derail rehearsals already packed with festival or solo prep. The modest time investment (3:30 total) makes it ideal for building program flow between heavier works or as a standalone feature when you're developing musicianship across your sections.