Cincopations: Viola
By Richard Meyer
Grade: 3.5
Item: 00-PC-0014515_VA1
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Description
The title tells it all! Cincopations is a highly-syncopated, Spanish-flavored selection that derives many of its musical ideas from the number 5. This five-part rondo, in 5/4 time, in which the interval of a fifth plays a prominent role is a great way to teach musical form and theory concepts. Students will love the energy and bravura of the piece, and the fact that every section is featured at some point. The wide variety of syncopated rhythms and hemiolas is sure to challenge your students and delight your audience. 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, Cincopations: Viola comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PC-0014515_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Richard Meyer
Richard Meyer brings decades of orchestral leadership to his compositions. Over 35 years in public school string education, he grew the orchestra program at Oak Avenue Intermediate School from 29 students to 200, and directed the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, taking them on tours across North America, Europe, and Australia. His work as a clinician at the A.S.T.A. National Conference, Texas Orchestra Directors' Association, and regional all-state workshops has shaped string pedagogy nationwide.
Beyond the podium, Meyer is a prolific composer with nearly 200 published works and arrangements. He served 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company and co-authored the String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings. In 2009, he launched the "Giving Bach" program at his school, using interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved students throughout Southern California, earning national recognition for this innovative approach.
Why we love this
Meyer's architecture here is exceptionally clever: building an entire five-part rondo around the number 5 (5/4 time, fifths as an interval anchor, five structural sections) turns music theory into lived experience rather than abstract lecture. Every stand gets a moment in the spotlight, which keeps rehearsals energetic and gives every player a reason to care about the overall shape.
What to expect
Cincopations pulses with rhythmic drive and Latin warmth, the kind of piece that makes audiences sit forward. Syncopations and hemiolas create a playful tension against the steady 5/4 pulse, building momentum through form rather than crescendo alone.
Who it's for
Grade 3.5 orchestras ready for metric and rhythmic sophistication beyond steady four-four feel. This works well for ensembles with solid intonation and independent rhythm readers who won't panic when syncopation gets dense.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the syncopated rhythms across all sections before worrying about tempo. Meyer layers hemiolas that sound sloppy if individual parts aren't internally secure; isolate the tricky figures by section first, then blend.
- Lean into the Spanish-flavored color. This isn't sophisticated orchestral writing; it's meant to groove and move. Let the energy breathe rather than conducting it metrically tight.
- Mark the rondo structure clearly in parts so students understand why certain themes return. If they know the formal architecture, the syncopations become less disorienting and more musical.
- Balance the fifth-interval motifs so audiences catch the unifying idea. Meyer relies on this melodic thread to tie the piece together; make sure it rises above the rhythmic complexity.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a concert exploring musical form or meter; it teaches without preaching. It also works beautifully in contest or festival contexts where judges appreciate both technical challenge and audience appeal in a single work.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing syncopated rhythms in 5/4 time
- Identifying and performing hemiola figures against the underlying pulse
- Understanding five-part rondo form through performance
- Recognizing the interval of a fifth as a unifying compositional device
- Balancing melodic material across ensemble sections