Diversions: String Orchestra Conductor Score

McBrien writes for young orchestras with genuine insight into what engages student players. The rhythmic drive of the opening hooks them immediately, while the contrasting interlude gives them something emotionally sophisticated to sink their teeth into. Contemporary language doesn't mean alienating here; it means writing that sounds genuinely modern without abandoning musicality or playability.

The piece opens with infectious rhythmic propulsion, immediately signaling that this is contemporary music with personality. Then it shifts into a quieter, more introspective landscape where mild dissonances create an emotional depth that surprises listeners expecting something simpler from a Grade 3 ensemble.

String orchestras at the intermediate level (Grade 3) looking to move beyond traditional tonality without losing playability. Directors preparing contest or festival repertoire benefit from a piece that challenges students rhythmically and harmonically while remaining within their technical reach.

• Establish a steady pulse during rehearsals of the meter changes. Mark the conductor's beat clearly and have students count through transitions so the shifting patterns feel organic rather than jarring.
• Balance the mild dissonances in the interlude by asking ensemble members to listen across sections. These harmonies need clarity and tuning precision to land with the intended poignancy.
• Work the opening section's rhythmic momentum through sectional rehearsals first. Once rhythm is secure, the ensemble can layer in the driving energy without losing ensemble cohesion.

Pair this with a Baroque or Classical string work to highlight the stylistic leap, or program it as the second piece in a concert that moves from traditional to contemporary idioms. Its length and contest appeal make it ideal for festival showcases where you want to demonstrate your ensemble's range and maturity.

• Reading and executing constantly changing meters
• Intonation and tuning of modern harmonic language and mild dissonances
• Rhythmic precision and ensemble cohesion during meter modulations
• Stylistic awareness of contemporary string writing
• Musical expression in contrasting tempos and textures