Classics for Contest: String Bass
Featuring: Overture from The Royal Fireworks Music / Hunter's Chorus from Der Freischutz / Can-Can
Arr. Richard Meyer
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0014606_SB
$5.99
Pickup currently not available
Description
Stretch your performance music budget further with a collection of pieces for the price of one! The Alfred and Belwin Signature Performance Series combine several best-selling pieces by our popular composers and arrangers into one set of score and parts. Made for young bands and orchestras, each set contains full-length pieces that can be used together in one concert or separately, with themes such as classic popular Christmas, movies, international, pop, and Classics appropriate for Contest. Also available for choir and handbell choir. Enjoy quality music at a great value price! This collection includes classic pieces for festivals, contests, and concerts. Titles: Overture from The Royal Fireworks Music * Hunter's Chorus from Der Freischutz * Can-Can.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Classics for Contest: String Bass comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Signature Performance Series for Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
144
SKU:
00-PC-0014606_SB
More about this title
About the Arranger: Richard Meyer
Richard Meyer spent 35 years developing string programs across elementary, middle, and high school levels in public school settings. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California, he transformed the orchestra from 29 students to 200 over 22 years while simultaneously directing the city's elementary string program. He also led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, taking ensembles on international performance tours to Vienna, Australia, and Canada.
Beyond the podium, Meyer has become a nationally recognized composer and arranger with nearly 200 published works. He served 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company and co-authored the String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, uses interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved students throughout Southern California and has earned national recognition for its innovative approach.
Why we love this
Meyer's arrangements respect the original masterworks while meeting the technical realities of young orchestras. Three substantial pieces in one package means you can program them together for a full concert or space them throughout the year, maximizing repertoire without stretching your budget. The contest-ready packaging and proven performance history make this a smart choice for directors planning festival appearances.
What to expect
This collection spans three distinct musical worlds: the baroque grandeur and ceremonial character of the Royal Fireworks excerpt, the hunting adventure and rhythmic drive of the German opera chorus, and the infectious energy and buoyancy of Offenbach's can-can. Students encounter elegant phrasing, rhythmic precision, and the satisfaction of playing genuinely rewarding music from the classical tradition.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors at the Grade 1 level who need reliable, performance-ready repertoire without excessive arrangement complexity. Teachers preparing students for festival or contest appearances will find these three pieces particularly useful for building a competitive program quickly.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic line across your first violins in the Overture; these Bach-based passages need clarity without overpowering the harmonic foundation beneath them.
- Lock tempo in the Can-Can's characteristic fast passages by having your rhythm section (cellos and basses) anchor the pulse before full ensemble rehearsals.
- Give special attention to the Hunter's Chorus introduction; the opening affects how the rest of the piece unfolds musically.
- Mark your bowings early and consistently so students build muscle memory for the stylistically distinct sections across all three pieces.
How to use it
Program these three pieces as a complete concert unit or distribute them strategically across your season. The Overture and Hunter's Chorus work beautifully as opening and closing movements, with the Can-Can providing an energetic centerpiece. Their festival and contest designation makes them particularly valuable for spring programming when competition schedules demand diverse, substantial repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Playing baroque articulation and phrasing conventions
- Sustaining character and style across contrasting pieces in one performance
- Reading and executing rhythmic patterns specific to European dance forms
- Balance and blend at Grade 1 level across three stylistically different works
- Contest-level ensemble precision and intonation