Danny Rocks: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$7.00 USD

Danny Rocks: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: Danny Rocks: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-26609S
Price: 7.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Traditional / arr. Bob Phillips

Grade: 3

Item: 00-26609S

$7.00

Shipped

One moment…

A Celtic rock explosion! The plaintive sounds of Danny Boy, set as a rock ballad, which builds into a frenzy with Swallowtail Jig and Drowsy Maggie. The energy level rises throughout and the rock beat intensifies, making this a great concert closer! Premiered at the 2007 ASTA National Conference, the violins and cellos are featured while all sections have cool licks with authentic Irish flavor. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Alternatives

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 038081303918

SKU: 00-26609S

More about this title

About the Composer: Bob Phillips

Bob Phillips is a composer, pedagogue, and conductor who has shaped string education through innovative repertoire and large-group teaching strategies. Since the 1980s, he has authored 25+ instructional series and composed over 200 works for orchestras and bands, establishing himself as an ASCAP award-winning voice in eclectic string music. His publications span jazz, rock, mariachi, Latin, and fiddle styles, reaching thousands of student musicians annually.

For nearly three decades, Phillips built the Saline, Michigan string program into a national model serving over 700 students across all levels. He founded the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, which earned international recognition through extensive touring and performances at the White House and Midwest Clinic. Phillips has guest conducted all-state orchestras across multiple states, served as resident conductor for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle, and produced instructional DVDs that have supported countless music teachers.

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Why we love this

This arrangement captures everything that makes a strong concert closer: it opens with genuine emotional weight, then pivots into undeniable energy that builds relentlessly to the final measure. The writing honors the source material while injecting unmistakable rock character throughout, and the featured passages for violins and cellos give your strongest players moments that feel earned and exciting rather than showboaty.

What to expect

The piece opens in quiet reflection, grounded in the melancholy beauty of Danny Boy; then a beat drops and the entire character shifts into rollicking, infectious rock energy. Swallowtail Jig and Drowsy Maggie drive home an unstoppable momentum, with Irish flavor and authentic fiddle figuration woven throughout, building to a breathless, joyful conclusion.

Who it's for

String orchestras at Grade 3 level seeking a show-stopping finale with broad appeal. This works for ensembles comfortable with energetic rock rhythms and wanting to showcase the fun, stylistic range their students can achieve beyond traditional classical repertoire.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening Danny Boy section with long, singing lines in the violins and cellos; let the ballad breathe before the energy shift arrives.
Lock the rhythm section (violas and basses) into a tight rock pulse when the transition occurs; the groove depends on their steadiness while upper strings add texture.
Bring out the Irish fiddle licks throughout; they define the character, so highlight them in sectional rehearsals and encourage rhythmic precision without losing the folk-tune flavor.
Build dynamics gradually from the jig section onward; resist the urge to jump to full volume early, and let the intensity escalate naturally through the final minutes.

How to use it

Reserve this for your final concert slot; audiences respond immediately to the familiar melody and the infectious rock treatment. It pairs well after a classical or traditional section, offering sharp contrast and leaving the audience energized as they leave the hall.