Concertino in G: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Del Borgo's use of fugal writing here gives students real contrapuntal material to learn from without overwhelming them. The classical framework keeps the focus on ensemble cohesion and individual voice independence, making this a genuinely educational piece that never sacrifices musicality for the sake of teaching.

Classical restraint meets developing ensemble energy. The fugal foundation gives the writing a formal, intellectual quality, while the simplicity of the material keeps the focus on clarity and precision rather than virtuosity. It's the sound of young musicians learning to listen to each other.

String orchestra directors looking for Grade 2 material that introduces contrapuntal thinking without requiring advanced technical facility. This piece works equally well for classroom ensembles and more experienced youth orchestras seeking accessible yet substantive concert repertoire.

• Establish clear entrances during the fugal sections by conducting with precision and clarity; even at Grade 2, students respond well to a conductor who shows exactly where their lines begin and end.
• Balance the voices so that the fugal subject remains audible as it passes between parts; resist the temptation to let any section cover the melodic material.
• Work the fugue section slowly at first, ensuring students can track their own lines before bringing the tempo up to performance speed.

Program this at a concert where you want to showcase ensemble musicianship and demonstrate growth in your students' ability to manage independent lines. It pairs well with Baroque-inspired works or as a bridge between unison warm-up repertoire and more complex multi-part writing.

• Tracking independent melodic lines in fugal texture
• Listening and balancing as an ensemble member
• Precise rhythmic entrance and release in contrapuntal writing
• Understanding of classical formal structures through performance