Beaumont Rag: String Orchestra Conductor Score

McCarrick's arrangement distributes the fun evenly across every section, which means your entire orchestra stays engaged from start to finish. The fiddle solo opportunity in third position gives your concertmaster or a strong first violinist a genuine spotlight moment, while the bluesy riffs for seconds and violas and the featured sections for cellos and basses ensure no player feels sidelined.

Beaumont Rag crackles with the energy of a fiddle contest, rolling forward with swagger and joy. The arrangement brings out the tune's bluesy character in unexpected places—those riffs in the middle voices add grit and personality—while the featured solos give the piece moments of intimacy before it rushes toward its rousing finale.

String orchestras at the Grade 3 level will find this arrangement accessible and rewarding. It works equally well for ensembles building confidence in style and sectional independence as for stronger groups looking for a crowd-pleasing opener or closer.

• Let the featured soloists in third position lean into the style of the tune with just enough slide or ornamentation to capture its fiddle roots without overselling it.
• The bluesy riffs in the second violin and viola parts benefit from a slightly lighter bow with a hint of rhythmic swing; rehearse these sections independently to nail the character.
• Time the accelerando into the big finish carefully; this is where the piece builds momentum, so lock in with your rhythm section (cello and bass) to drive it home.
• Balance the solo fiddle line against the ensemble; the backing parts should support without drowning out the lead voice.

This tune opens a concert with immediate charm and energy, or serves as an exciting encore that sends the audience out smiling. The short length and built-in showcase moments make it ideal for programs that mix traditional concert pieces with American folk idioms, or for youth orchestra concerts where audience connection matters as much as technical display.

• Fiddle-style ornamentation and articulation in third position
• Ensemble balance when accompanying a featured soloist
• Stylistic control of bluesy riffs and swing rhythm
• Sectional independence and confidence in supporting roles
• Accelerando control and ensemble cohesion during tempo transitions