Arco Polo: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$7.00 USD

Arco Polo: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: Arco Polo: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-50255198
Price: 7.00 USD
Availability: InStock

For Multi-Level Orchestra

By Ingrid Koller

Grade: 1.5-3

Item: 36-50255198

$7.00

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This engaging piece for string orchestra is appropriate for any time of the year but would be especially fun for a summer orchestra concert. Arco Polo is the musical depiction of the well-known swimming-pool game "Marco Polo." The piece begins with tutti pizzicato. Then the instruments "call out" to each other using their bows. Students and audience members can listen for the following: The calling and answering (sections take turns), playful splashing (grace notes), the annoyance of the violin sections when their calls are not answered, and the underwater response of the cellos and basses. This multi-level piece is a practical choice for an orchestra with students at varying skill levels. At its core, it is a level 1.5 piece and can stand alone as such, but with the addition of the advanced violin, viola, and cello parts, it becomes even more challenging and fun. There is an optional improvisational section where students are randomly (perhaps secretly) selected to be the "caller," and the rest of the orchestra answers. An audience member could be cued to call out to the orchestra as an extra surprise. (2:00)

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Series: LudwigMasters Beginning Strings

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

ISBN10: 1-63-887459-X

ISBN13: 978-1-63-887459-1

UPC: 735816206857

SKU: 36-50255198

Instrumentation: String Orchestra, Ensemble Works

More about this title

Why we love this

Koller has written a piece that captures the spontaneity and joy of a familiar game, giving students a genuine reason to care about what they're playing. The scaffolded instrumentation (core 1.5 level with optional advanced parts) means every member of your orchestra contributes meaningfully, regardless of where they sit on the skill spectrum. The improvisational "caller" section transforms a passive concert experience into something your audience will remember.

What to expect

Joyful and playful from start to finish, with moments of gentle exasperation when calls go unanswered. The grace notes sparkle like splashing water, and the interplay between sections feels like real kids at a pool, not a formal musical exercise. There's warmth in the response sections, particularly when the lower strings chime in.

Who it's for

String orchestras with mixed abilities, particularly those seeking repertoire that doesn't ask advanced players to sit idle. Middle school programs and community orchestras will find this especially useful for summer concerts or fun-focused programming. The optional advanced parts reward your strongest violins, violas, and cellists without fragmenting the ensemble.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the pizzicato foundation firmly before introducing the arco sections. The rhythmic integrity of the opening pool environment depends on ensemble precision.
Coach the "calling" sections to respond with genuine musical conversation, not mechanical exchanges. Each answer should land slightly differently in pitch or articulation to capture the game's unpredictability.
If you stage the improvisational section, brief your student callers beforehand about which passages will feature them. This builds confidence and keeps the section purposeful rather than chaotic.
Highlight the cello and bass "underwater response" as a distinct textural moment. Their lower register creates real compositional contrast and gives lower-string players an exciting exposed moment.

How to use it

Program this as a second-half opener at a summer concert to shift the mood toward pure enjoyment and audience engagement. It works beautifully on mixed-repertoire family concerts or school assemblies where non-musicians will connect immediately to the Marco Polo conceit. The piece also pairs well with other shorter, character-driven works from the LudwigMasters Beginning Strings series.