Dance of the Cossacks: Cello
By Loreta Fin
Grade: 2.5
Item: 76-PC-0000047_VC1
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Description
Although this dance is energetic, it mustn't begin too quickly, to allow for the accelerando in the final section. However, when the ensemble is confident with the rhythms, a more adventurous tempo could be attempted. The off-beats in the 2nd violins and violas need to be short and precise and the bass line very solid. The conductor can decide whether the ensemble uses pizzicato or col legno at bar 21. It is vital that each section counts very carefully from bar 29. The final bars should be exciting, but remain controlled.
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Additional Details
Series:
Wilfin String Orchestra: Young String Ensemble Series
Publisher:
Wilfin Music
Page Count:
114
SKU:
76-PC-0000047_VC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Loreta Fin
Loreta Fin AM is a Sydney-trained violinist who spent decades building a career as both a performer and educator. She served as Principal Viola player with the Queensland Pops Orchestra for more than 25 years while directing strings at Somerville House School in Brisbane since 1993, establishing herself as a respected voice in Australian music education.
Beyond the classroom and concert hall, Fin has shaped the profession through leadership roles with the Australian Strings Association (including State and National President), adjudication at major competitions across Australia, and contributions to two American National String Teachers' Conferences. Her compositional output of more than 100 works for string orchestra, published worldwide by Alfred Music, reflects her deep understanding of what young ensembles need. In 2017, she released a Beginner String Ensemble Series for all four string instruments. Fin has also conducted the State and National Honours Ensembles Programs in Brisbane since 2015 and received the National Award for Services to Music and String Teaching.
Why we love this
This piece gives your young string orchestra a realistic exploration of tempo control and ensemble precision without overwhelming them technically. Fin's attention to detail about the off-beat figures, the solid bass line, and the carefully managed accelerando shows a composer who understands exactly what matters at this level. The choice between pizzicato and col legno at the climactic moment gives conductors a tool for shaping the final impact.
What to expect
This Cossack-inspired dance pulses with earthy energy and rhythmic character. The interplay between the off-beat accompaniment and the solid harmonic foundation creates a sense of forward motion that feels alive and grounded, culminating in a controlled but exhilarating finish.
Who it's for
Young string orchestras at the intermediate level will find a piece that respects their growing technical abilities while offering genuine musical challenges. Conductors appreciate that the work is performance-ready without requiring exceptional virtuosity, making it suitable for festivals, concerts, or competition settings.
How to get the most out of it
- Resist the urge to race through the opening. Establish a tempo that gives the accelerando section genuine room to build, which will make the final bars feel genuinely exciting rather than rushed.
- Isolate the 2nd violin and viola off-beats in rehearsal; they must be crisp and rhythmically tight. Have them practice separately, then blend them back in when the precision is solid.
- Mark bar 29 clearly in all parts and conduct with deliberate clarity at that entrance. Every section should know it's a recount moment and prepare accordingly.
- Experiment with both pizzicato and col legno options at bar 21 before deciding. Each articulation changes the character of the approach to the final section, so try both and see which serves your interpretation.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece that bridges traditional and contemporary programming without demanding technical extremes. It works equally well in a multicultural concert theme, as a festival entry, or alongside lighter, character-based repertoire that showcases ensemble control and rhythmic maturity.
Skills your students will build
- Tempo control and managing accelerando
- Precision on off-beat figures in 2nd violin and viola parts
- Ensemble counting and synchronized section entrances
- Choosing and executing articulation choices (pizzicato vs. col legno)
- Maintaining controlled intensity in final climactic sections