Fiddles on Fire: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Fiddles on Fire: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Fiddles on Fire: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-16821
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mark Williams

Grade: 1

Item: 00-16821

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Rosin up the bow, call out the fire department, and let's go! This lively, energetic piece gives students a chance to show off their newly learned C natural (on the A string) in a modal display of beginning virtuosity. Students will want to play this one again and again. (Grade 1 - Correlates with Strictly Strings, Book 1, page 30) 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, Fiddles on Fire: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Highland/Etling Strictly Strings

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 72

ISBN10: 1-4706-5353-2

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5353-8

UPC: 038081140308

SKU: 00-16821

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Williams

Mark Williams built a prolific career composing for young musicians, with over 200 published works spanning band, orchestra, and choral settings. His influence on school music education extended far beyond the page; as a clinician and guest conductor, he visited 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia, while also co-authoring the Accent on Achievement Band Method. Williams earned degrees in music education from Eastern Washington University and spent decades teaching elementary band in Washington state, bringing firsthand knowledge of what works in the rehearsal room.

Beyond his compositional output, Williams was an active performer on bassoon and served as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band. His contributions to music education were recognized through multiple ASCAP Special Awards and the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition. His work consistently reflected a deep understanding of young players' capabilities and the kinds of pieces that inspire them to practice.

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Why we love this

Williams captures the genuine excitement of discovery in a piece that feels authentic to the moment students master their first string crossing. The modal harmonic flavor gives this piece character beyond typical beginner fare, and the energetic rhythm keeps attention high while remaining technically accessible. Young players respond to the playful confidence the music demands, making it a natural choice for concert programming or festival play.

What to expect

Fiddles on Fire crackles with playful energy and fiddle-inspired phrasing that feels both modern and rooted in folk tradition. The piece invites players into a genuinely fun musical moment, one where technical growth feels like an adventure rather than a chore. It's the kind of selection that has students requesting repeated run-throughs and arriving at rehearsal eager to play.

Who it's for

This piece is designed for beginning string orchestras (Grade 1) who have just learned C natural on the A string and are ready for a confidence-building showcase. It works equally well for groups using Strictly Strings Book 1 (page 30) as their core method or for any program seeking accessible, musically engaging repertoire at this level.

How to get the most out of it

Isolate the A string work in sectionals before combining with the ensemble, especially the transition into and out of C natural. Slow it down enough that shifts feel secure, then gradually bring the tempo up.
Pay attention to the modal color; resist the urge to over-emphasize dynamics early on. Let the tuning and articulation clarity carry the character instead.
Use the fiddle style as permission for looser, more dance-like phrasing. This isn't a formal classical piece, so encourage students to feel the rhythmic pulse in their bows.
Mark the stopping points and ensemble articulation cues clearly in the parts so everyone lands together. The energy will naturally pull the tempo forward without your intervention.

How to use it

Program this as the showcase piece on a fall or winter concert, positioning it where the energy and accessibility will engage both young audiences and proud families. It also makes an excellent choice for contest and festival competition at Grade 1, where judges appreciate pieces that balance musical personality with age-appropriate technique.