Broken Runes: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Broken Runes: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Broken Runes: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49058
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Doug Spata

Grade: 2

Item: 00-49058

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Broken Runes is a bold piece for late beginners in B minor by Doug Spata. Successive down bows at the frog create a ferocious percussive ostinato, and the challenging staccato eighth notes of the main theme add to the primitive style. The piece is rhythmically simple, tonally accessible, and features all sections of the orchestra. Students will love showing off this piece at your next concert! (1:50)

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 74

ISBN10: 1-4706-4574-2

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4574-8

UPC: 038081564227

SKU: 00-49058

More about this title

About the Composer: Doug Spata

Doug Spata came to composition through his work as a string orchestra director, and that classroom experience shaped his entire compositional voice. Though trained as a clarinetist, he discovered his gift lay in writing idiomatically for strings, creating music that engages student musicians while standing up to professional scrutiny.

His catalog spans opera, ballet, symphonies, and chamber works performed across the United States and internationally. His compositions have earned recognition from festivals and competitions, yet they remain grounded in the realities of school music programs: music that's fun to play, rewarding to teach, and genuinely exciting to hear.

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Why we love this

Spata understands that Grade 2 orchestras need music with attitude, not just technical accessibility. The percussive down-bow ostinato immediately captures attention and gives every violinist a chance to feel powerful, while the staccato eighth-note theme is challenging enough to demand real focus from your ensemble. This is the kind of piece students ask to play again.

What to expect

Raw and propulsive, with the ferocity of primitive percussion translated onto strings. The persistent down-bow ostinato creates a hypnotic pulse while the staccato melody cuts through with urgency, building an atmosphere that's dramatic without being heavy.

Who it's for

String orchestras at Grade 2 level who are ready to tackle something with real personality and driving rhythm. This piece rewards orchestras with solid fundamentals in bow control and rhythmic precision, giving them a concert showstopper that feels contemporary and energetic.

How to get the most out of it

Lock in the down-bow ostinato at the frog before addressing tempo or dynamics. Have the violins practice this rhythm independently first, then layer in the other sections so the groove is unmistakable by rehearsal two.
Shape the staccato passages with clear articulation but avoid letting them become choppy. Think of the eighth notes as deliberate attacks with space between, not rushed or separated.
Balance the primitive quality of the ostinato with the melodic material that emerges over it. The theme should sing through, not compete with the rhythmic foundation underneath.
Use the 1:50 duration as a guide for pacing, but don't rush the build. Allow the excitement to develop naturally as sections enter and the texture thickens.

How to use it

This works brilliantly as a mid-concert piece that shifts the energy and mood, especially if you're programming lighter repertoire alongside it. Its bold orchestration and relatively short duration make it ideal for a festival or competition where you want your orchestra to make an immediate, memorable impression.