Cumberland Cross: Flexible Band/String Ensemble Score & Parts

Strommen understood that flexibility doesn't mean compromise. This piece maintains genuine compositional integrity while accommodating ensembles with vastly different instrumentation and size, so your students get a satisfying, musically coherent experience regardless of what chairs are filled. The American folk idiom feels fresh at this level, and the two-section architecture gives you natural programming options within a single work.

Cumberland Cross balances the reflective, spacious quality of Shenandoah with the rhythmic vitality and open harmonies associated with American frontier music. The opening section unfolds with hymn-like dignity while the second movement dances with the buoyant energy of a country reel, creating a piece that feels both rooted and alive.

Directors running mixed ensembles with flexible instrumentation, small ensembles with five or more players, and programs where instrument roster changes seasonally or where combining band and orchestra sections is standard practice. This works equally well for intermediate to advanced Grade 4 groups seeking substantial concert repertoire without the complexity of separate full-band and full-orchestra versions.

• Consult the customizable Teacher Map early to assign parts strategically; the supplemental parts allow you to double critical melodic or harmonic lines based on your specific instrumentation.
• Attend to the string fingerings and bowings provided, especially in less familiar keys. These fingerings aren't ornamental; they support intonation and ensemble blend across mixed instruments.
• Establish the first section's broad, hymn-like character before introducing the Copland-influenced second section so the contrast lands effectively.
• Use the free percussion accompaniment track during rehearsal to lock ensemble balance and timing without requiring a live piano or keyboard.

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert celebrating American music or folk traditions, pairing it with other Americana-influenced works. Its moderate difficulty and impressive sound make it a reliable choice for festivals or competitions, and the two contrasting sections allow you to highlight different facets of your ensemble's musicianship within a single piece.

• Playing with secure intonation in keys less familiar to younger string players
• Balancing individual lines within a mixed instrumentation context
• Interpreting contrasting sectional characters and phrasing in folk-based music
• Listening across instrument families while maintaining ensemble cohesion
• Sight-reading supplemental and flexible parts tailored to specific instrumentation