Ad Astra: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Ad Astra: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Ad Astra: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49063
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

To the Stars

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 3

Item: 00-49063

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$60.00

Shipped

One moment…

Take your orchestra on a fantastic journey into the far reaches of outer space with this thrilling overture that is sure to capture the imaginations of all of your young performers. Memorable melodies abound here, and the variety of key signatures, time signatures, and musical styles make this a great teaching piece perfect for contest or festival. The interesting orchestration gives this piece a mature, cinematic sound and allows every section of the string orchestra their chance in the spotlight. Ad Astra is a fantastic work by Richard Meyer! (5:50) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Ad Astra: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 138

ISBN10: 1-4706-4584-X

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4584-7

UPC: 038081564241

SKU: 00-49063

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years in the classroom teaching strings at every level, building the orchestra program at Oak Avenue Intermediate School from 29 students to 200. His work didn't stop there; he directed the Pasadena Youth Symphony for 16 years, taking young musicians to perform in New York, Vienna, Australia, and beyond.

Meyer's influence extends across the profession as a clinician at ASTA conferences, state honor orchestras, and university workshops. He's also a prolific composer with nearly 200 published works and served 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing. His "Giving Bach" initiative at his school became a national model for using interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved communities throughout Southern California.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Meyer knows exactly what young orchestras need to sound and feel accomplished. Ad Astra delivers cinematic scope without requiring advanced technique, giving every section meaningful material while the programmatic narrative keeps students engaged from rehearsal one through performance.

What to expect

Soaring and immersive, Ad Astra sweeps listeners through cosmic vistas with memorable melodies anchoring the journey. The orchestration shimmers with depth, moving from intimate chamber-like passages to full, resonant climaxes that feel genuinely cinematic.

Who it's for

Grade 3 orchestras preparing for festival or contest will find a work that sounds mature and finished while sitting squarely in their technical wheelhouse. Directors looking for a showpiece that teaches musical storytelling and orchestral color will appreciate how Meyer distributes the narrative across the entire ensemble.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the memorable lines across first and second violins; Meyer writes for both to carry thematic weight, so resist the urge to let firsts dominate every phrase.
Let the key and meter shifts breathe. These changes are intentional markers of musical travel; rushing through them flattens the journey.
Shape the orchestration's transparency by bringing out the inner voices when violas and cellos take the melody. Young players often wait for the violins to lead.
Record a rehearsal early and listen back with the ensemble. Hearing how the cinematic sound develops across five and a half minutes helps students understand pacing.

How to use it

Open a spring concert with this overture to signal that young orchestras can handle ambitious repertoire with serious musical intent. Pair it with a classical concerto or a lighter contemporary work to show range across a single program.