Appalachian Celebration: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PK-0007108
$49.00
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Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Celebration: Score | $9.00 | |
| Appalachian Celebration: 1st Violin | $5.99 | |
| Appalachian Celebration: 2nd Violin | $5.99 | |
| Appalachian Celebration: Viola | $5.99 | |
| Appalachian Celebration: Cello | $5.99 | |
| Appalachian Celebration: String Bass | $5.99 |
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Description
This original piece is in a style reminiscent of the music of the rich cultural heritage of the Appalachian Mountain area. Music is an important part of the Appalachian way of life. In fact, Appalachian music is one of the best-known manifestations of the culture. Traditional Appalachian music is derived primarily from the English and Scottish ballad tradition and Irish and Scottish fiddle music. African-American blues musicians played a significant role in developing the instrumental aspects of Appalachian music as well. (2:15)
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PK-0007108
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan has composed and arranged music performed at prestigious venues ranging from the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic to the White House, and his work was featured at the inauguration of Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder. He holds undergraduate credentials from Bridgewater College in Music Education and a master's degree from James Madison University.
Fagan spent 36 years directing bands in Albemarle County schools before transitioning to higher education, where he serves as a University Supervisor at JMU and teaches arranging as adjunct faculty. His contributions to music education have earned him recognition as Central Virginia's Outstanding Middle School Teacher (Phi Delta Kappa), Outstanding Educator honors from both the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts and the Piedmont Council of the Arts, and two listings in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Active as a clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band, he maintains memberships in ASCAP, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, and leadership roles within MENC and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association.
Why we love this
Fagan captures the essential character of Appalachian culture without relying on obvious fiddle tunes or overwrought arrangements. The piece sits comfortably at Grade 2.5, making it accessible for developing orchestras while offering genuine musical substance and authentic regional flavor that engages both players and audiences.
What to expect
The music carries the warmth and resilience of Appalachian tradition, drawing from English and Scottish ballad heritage, Irish fiddle idioms, and the blues influences that shaped the region's instrumental voice. It's nostalgic without being sentimental, rooted in place and history without sacrificing musicality or emotional directness.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the high school and upper middle school level will find a piece that honors its cultural inspiration while remaining playable by still-developing musicians. The Grade 2.5 level makes it ideal for ensembles working on secure intonation and musical storytelling without technical overwhelm.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic lines so that traditional Appalachian material sings through even when distributed across multiple voices. Young string players often bury the tune in accompanimental texture.
- Pay attention to rhythmic clarity in the lower strings. The foundation of this style depends on crisp articulation and steady pulse in the cello and bass lines.
- Shape phrases with the natural breathing points of ballad and fiddle traditions, which often differ from Classical phrase conventions. Listen to recordings of authentic Appalachian music to internalize these phrasing gestures.
- Encourage an expressive vibrato that sits somewhere between classical formality and folk authenticity. The warmth matters here, but clarity of pitch matters more.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to establish a distinctly American cultural perspective, or pair it with other folk-inspired works to create a thematic program about regional musical traditions. At 2:15, it fits comfortably into a mixed program and works equally well in contests and community concerts where authentic cultural representation resonates.
Skills your students will build
- Executing legato bowing with consistent tone quality across longer phrases
- Balancing ensemble texture when melodies pass between instruments
- Responding to rhythmic and phrasing conventions rooted in folk traditions rather than Classical forms
- Sustaining intonation in open positions through careful listening and adjustment