El Toro: 1st Violin
By Don Brubaker
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PC-0000154_VN1
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Description
"El Toro" is a Spanish dance reminiscent of an exciting bullfight in Madrid. (El toro means "the bull" in Spanish.) After a castanet-style introduction, the theme is passed from high strings to low strings and back again. A transition leads to a stop in the action of the bullfight where the matador (a solo violin) and the bull (a solo cello) "discuss" the situation. Then the fight gradually picks up again and the theme is restated. The exciting castanet-like rhythm brings the fight to an end. (2:20) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
136
SKU:
00-PC-0000154_VN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Don Brubaker
Don Brubaker is a prolific composer and arranger whose work spans educational wind and string ensembles. His compositions are known for their accessibility at lower grade levels combined with genuine musical substance and character, making them reliable fixtures in festival and concert programming across the country.
Brubaker's arrangements and original works for student ensembles prioritize clarity of orchestration and teachable moments without sacrificing the joy of performance. His understanding of how younger musicians learn and grow shapes every decision in his writing, from part independence to dramatic pacing.
Why we love this
El Toro delivers exactly what Grade 2 string orchestras need: a piece with genuine narrative arc, clear sectional contrast, and built-in excitement that doesn't rely on technical pyrotechnics. The castanet-rhythm framing device gives students something immediately recognizable to anchor the performance, while the matador-and-bull dialogue offers a moment of genuine musical conversation that elevates the experience beyond rhythmic showmanship.
What to expect
The music conjures the hot energy and drama of a Spanish bullfight, beginning with the sharp crack of castanets and the flash of the opening. The central exchange between soloist voices slows the pulse into a tense, almost theatrical dialogue before the full ensemble surges back with renewed vigor and excitement, building to a thrilling climax.
Who it's for
Grade 2 string orchestras looking for a programmatic piece with personality and clear musical storytelling. This works equally well for concert performance and festival competition, as it engages audiences through its narrative frame while remaining well-suited to the technical level of developing orchestras.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the castanet-style rhythm with precise articulation and consistent dynamics across the section; this is the piece's signature sound and deserves attention equal to the melodic material.
- Balance the solo violin (matador) and solo cello (bull) as genuine conversational partners in the middle section; their exchange should feel like real dramatic tension, not accompaniment with soloists on top.
- Control the tempo during the buildup sections so that the gradual intensification feels organic rather than rushed; resist the urge to accelerate prematurely.
- Ensure the return of the full theme after the solo dialogue has the energy and clarity to feel like the fight has truly resumed, not merely retrieved.
How to use it
Program El Toro as an appetizer to a concert or festival set; its short length (2:20) and high energy make it an excellent opener that establishes the ensemble's musicality and command of rhythmic precision. It also pairs well on a concert that features other Latin or Spanish-influenced repertoire, or as a contrasting piece between slower, lyrical works.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision and unified articulation in repeated rhythmic motifs
- Balance and contrast between high and low string sections
- Solo awareness and independence for featured violin and cello
- Tempo control and dramatic pacing across sectional transitions
- Following a conductor's shape through narrative-driven form