American Landscape: Viola
American Landscape: Viola Sheet Music Preview

American Landscape: Viola

By Soon Hee Newbold

Grade: 3

Item: 98-PC-DST6117_VA1
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Description
All eighth notes should be slightly off the string and brushed. Make certain that all melodies and moving lines are brought out while keeping harmonies in the background.

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Additional Details
Series: FJH String Orchestra
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU: 98-PC-DST6117_VA1

More about this title

About the Composer: Soon Hee Newbold

Soon Hee Newbold

Soon Hee Newbold brings a global perspective to every score she writes, shaped by decades of performance and conducting experience across six continents. Her musical training began at five on piano, expanding to violin at seven, and evolved into a career that has taken her from concert halls like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to classrooms and festival stages worldwide. She draws creative energy from the cultural traditions she encounters through travel and collaboration, weaving those influences into works that speak to ensembles at every level.

Why we love this

Newbold understands the Grade 3 orchestra deeply. She writes melodies that sit naturally under student fingers while demanding genuine musicianship in how those lines are shaped and balanced. The articulation instruction (off-string brushed eighths) gives your section leaders something specific to rehearse and hear, transforming a technical detail into a unified sound that elevates the whole ensemble.

What to expect

American Landscape opens outward, painting broad gestures with a patriotic character. Beneath the confident, straightforward melodies sits an energetic rhythmic pulse created by those brushed eighths, giving the piece forward momentum and a distinctly contemporary orchestral sound that feels both accessible and sophisticated.

Who it's for

Grade 3 string orchestras preparing for festival or contest performance. This piece suits ensembles with at least one full year of playing experience and the ability to execute a specific bowing technique with precision.

How to get the most out of it

  • Isolate the off-string brushed eighth-note figures in sectional rehearsals. Have strings practice the motion without pressing into the string, keeping the bow close to the surface. This technique requires control and will reward careful attention.
  • Balance melody and harmony by seating your strongest readers or most musically mature players on the moving lines. Mark those passages clearly in parts so every player knows when they hold harmonic support versus carrying the tune.
  • Conduct the brushed eighths with a clear, consistent motion. Your preparatory gesture sets the tone for how articulated and unified this section will sound across the orchestra.

How to use it

Place this on a festival program or concert that explores American themes. Its Grade 3 accessibility and striking articulation technique make it an ideal opener or a standout selection that sounds more advanced than its difficulty level suggests, giving your ensemble confidence heading into the second half of the season.

Skills your students will build

  • Off-string bowing technique and controlled brush articulation
  • Balancing melodic lines with harmonic accompaniment
  • Reading and executing specific conductor cues for rhythmic ensemble
  • Sustaining patriotic and lyrical character across longer phrases

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