Fantasia on a Theme from Thailand: String Bass
By Richard Meyer
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0000951_SB
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Description
This selection is essentially a set of variations on the "Pong Lang Dance", one of Thailand's most popular melodies. The pong lang is a suspended vertical wooden xylophone whose keys are arranged upside down, with the low notes on the upper end and the high notes at the bottom. The melody uses the pentatonic scale and is very simple in nature. The variations do not retain the phrase lengths or harmonic structure of the original melody as traditional variations would, but rather expand on fragments of the original tune in a variety of tempi and styles. After this exploration, the original melody returns, gradually gaining speed and energy as one would hear in a traditional performance of this dance. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fantasia on a Theme from Thailand: String Bass comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
62
SKU:
00-PC-0000951_SB
More about this title
About the Composer: Richard Meyer
Richard Meyer brings three and a half decades of string teaching experience to his compositions, having built a program at Oak Avenue Intermediate School from 29 students to 200. His tenure as music director of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years took student musicians to performances across Vienna, Australia, Canada, and major U.S. cities, shaping how he thinks about repertoire and ensemble development.
Beyond the podium, Meyer has established himself as a prolific composer with nearly 200 works in print and spent 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, uses interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved student populations throughout Southern California. He has also co-authored widely adopted string method resources, including the String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings.
Why we love this
Meyer takes a genuine fragment of Thai musical tradition and handles it with respect for the source while creating something that serves young orchestras at the exact moment they're ready for textural variety and rhythmic independence. The variations don't follow classical European patterns, which means your musicians navigate something genuinely fresh rather than predictable harmonic territory. The payoff comes at the end when the familiar melody returns accelerating naturally toward the energy of an actual folk dance performance.
What to expect
The pong lang melody arrives as something simple and familiar, then dissolves into playful fragments that spin across tempi and textures like the theme is being examined from different angles. When the full melody returns, it's gained momentum and warmth from the journey, moving toward the spirited energy of an actual Thai dance performance.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate to early advanced level (Grade 2.5) looking for repertoire that engages with world music without oversimplifying the arrangement. Directors seeking a concert or festival piece with educational depth and genuine cultural grounding will find this accessible without being condescending to the musicians.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the pentatonic sound world in early rehearsals by having all sections learn the core melody before dividing into parts; this shared ownership makes the fragmentary variations feel coherent rather than scattered.
- Shape the return of the original melody with gradual dynamic and tempo growth rather than sudden changes; the acceleration toward the final section should feel inevitable, not imposed.
- Balance the xylophone-like quality of the pong lang in your mind as you conduct the higher string voices; Meyer's orchestration suggests that suspended, slightly hollow sonority throughout the piece.
How to use it
Place this early in a concert to establish the multicultural thread of the program, or save it for the second half where its accelerating energy provides natural lift. The Grade 2.5 level makes it ideal for a mixed middle school or young high school orchestra, and its festival-friendly appeal works equally well in a concert setting.
Skills your students will build
- Navigating variations built on melodic fragments rather than full harmonic cycles
- Playing with pentatonic tonality and its particular color in string writing
- Executing gradual tempo changes and accelerations with ensemble precision
- Balancing multiple textural layers as variations distribute the theme across sections