Celtic Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$46.00 USD

Celtic Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Celtic Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-19555
Price: 46.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mark Williams

Grade: 1

Item: 00-19555

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This tuneful original in the E Dorian mode will help your beginning string orchestra sound its very best. Written in 3/4 time, this engaging work uses only the notes of a one-octave D major scale (plus open E) and no eighth notes! A great introduction to 3/4 meter and modal harmonies. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Celtic Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Highland/Etling Strictly Strings

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 72

ISBN10: 1-4706-5556-X

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5556-3

UPC: 038081186160

SKU: 00-19555

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Williams

Mark Williams built a prolific career as a composer for young musicians, creating over 200 works for bands, orchestras, and choirs. He co-authored the Accent on Achievement Band Method and spent decades as a clinician and guest conductor, traveling across 34 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia to work with school ensembles.

Based in Washington state for most of his teaching career, Williams specialized in elementary band and held degrees from Eastern Washington University. He performed bassoon and arranged for the 560th Air Force Band, while also serving as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band. His contributions to music education earned him recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards.

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Why we love this

Beginning string orchestras need pieces that sound assured without asking too much technically, and Celtic Dance delivers exactly that. The E Dorian mode gives your strings an authentic modal flavor while the limited pitch set (one-octave D major plus open E) means students can focus entirely on intonation, rhythm clarity, and ensemble balance rather than negotiating complex fingerings.

What to expect

Celtic Dance evokes the lilt and character of folk traditions while maintaining the clarity and focus young orchestras need. The E Dorian mode lends an open, slightly exotic quality that sounds more mature than a simple major-key march, even though the technical demands remain refreshingly modest.

Who it's for

Grade 1 string orchestras encountering 3/4 meter for the first time will find this piece both manageable and rewarding. Conductors of beginning ensembles who want to introduce modal harmony without overwhelming limited technique will appreciate the careful construction that lets musical ideas shine through.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a clear, steady pulse in 3/4; many young string players find the three-beat frame easier to internalize when the conductor's beat is confident and unhurried.
Balance the melody between your first violins and any inner voices; the tuneful nature of this piece means the line should sing, not disappear beneath accompaniment figures.
Use open E strategically as a reference pitch during rehearsals to reinforce intonation across the ensemble, especially in passages where it functions as a drone or harmonic anchor.
Record a rehearsal run-through early in preparation so students can hear how the piece sits together and develop ownership of the modal sound.

How to use it

This works beautifully as an opening piece on a spring or festival concert, setting a welcoming tone before more complex works. It also serves as a milestone moment in the early season, marking the point where your beginners have developed enough control to tackle metric variety and modal color.