Fiddlin' with the Classics: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Arranged by Deborah Baker Monday
Grade: 1
Item: 98-DST6298
$45.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Score | $5.00 | |
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Violin 2 (Viola T.C.) | $7.00 | |
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Viola | $7.00 | |
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Violoncello | $7.00 | |
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Double Bass | $7.00 | |
| Fiddlin' with the Classics: Piano | $7.00 |
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Description
Combining famous classical melodies with popular American folk songs, this clever work ties everything together in a fun, fiddlin' atmosphere! Works by Beethoven, Handel and Mozart are woven into folk tunes like Boil Them Cabbage, Li'l Liza Jane, and hints of Dixie. A fun piece that "fiddles" with tunes in the classic fiddle tradition!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6298
More about this title
About the Arranger: Deborah Baker Monday
Deborah Baker Monday spent 25 years leading the Logan City orchestra program, an ensemble recognized for its excellence and contributions to music education. She holds a B.M.E. from Florida State University with specialization in string education, and earned her M.M. in composition from the University of Alabama, where she also performed as a bassist with regional orchestras. She completed doctoral coursework at Louisiana State University and subsequently taught as a low string specialist in the Logan City School District.
Monday has become a prolific composer and arranger for educational strings, with over 130 published works across seven publishers. Her contributions to music education have earned her the Outstanding Elementary Educator award from the Utah ASTA and the Superior Accomplishment award from the Utah MEA, as well as victories in the Utah ASTA Composition Competition in 2006 and 2011. She remains active as a clinician, conductor, and guest instructor, presenting her work at state conferences and national venues including The Midwest Clinic and the Ohio State String Teachers Workshop.
Why we love this
Monday captures the playful spirit of American fiddling while honoring the classical canon. By weaving Beethoven, Handel, and Mozart into the DNA of folk tunes students actually recognize and enjoy, she makes classical literacy feel organic rather than imposed. A Grade 1 piece this musically generous and dramatically fun is rare; directors use it to show beginning orchestras that "classical" and "engaging" are not opposites.
What to expect
A spirited barn dance that suddenly pauses to tip its hat to the masters. The piece celebrates how folk tradition and classical tradition live in the same musical world, delivered with humor and accessibility that keeps things bright and forward-moving throughout.
Who it's for
Conductors introducing young string players to the relationship between classical and vernacular American music. This grade 1 piece works beautifully for beginning orchestras ready for multi-thematic arrangements and light concert programming that engages family audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the fiddle style articulation on the folk tune sections; the contrast between classical phrasing and rhythmic, "plucked" feeling in the folk tunes makes the arrangement work.
- Balance the classical melody lines (first and second violins) so audiences hear both the familiar classical themes and the folk song foundation.
- Keep the tempo steady and playful rather than rushing; Grade 1 players will need breathing room to execute the quick character shifts.
How to use it
Program this as a conversation starter on a concert that pairs classical and American music, or use it mid-year when your beginning orchestra has developed enough technical stability to handle character shifts. The novelty appeal makes it strong material for family concerts, school assemblies, or pops-style programming where building audience connection matters as much as technical demonstration.
Skills your students will build
- Performing in contrasting articulation styles (legato classical phrasing versus detached fiddle style)
- Reading and executing quick thematic shifts and mood changes
- Balancing melodic lines within multi-part textures
- Developing ensemble cohesion at Grade 1 level through rhythmic coordination