Forest Hills Folk Suite: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
I. River Hymn, II. Waltz of the Hills, III. Barn Dance
By Bob Phillips
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PK-0005738
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Description
Beautiful, original melodies abound in all sections, but the violas and cellos really get a chance to shine in this suite comprised of three movements: "River Hymn," "Waltz of the Hills," and "Barn Dance." In C Major, this piece is ideal to teach F and C natural. The movements are brief and can be performed individually or as a suite. Remaining true to the early Americana feel of the piece, the last movement is an upbeat, old-timey tune! Correlates to Sound Innovations Book 2, Level 2. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
140
SKU:
00-PK-0005738
More about this title
About the Composer: Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips has spent decades establishing himself as a transformative force in string education. Since 1953, he has created pedagogically sound works and comprehensive curricula that reach thousands of young musicians annually. His expertise spans multiple genres, from classical foundations to folk, jazz, rock, mariachi, and Latin styles, making him uniquely equipped to write music that engages students while building solid musicianship.
For 27 years, Phillips directed the string program in Saline, Michigan, developing it into a nationally recognized model that emphasized both classical excellence and stylistic diversity. He founded the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, an ensemble that performed internationally and at venues including the White House and the Midwest Clinic. As a clinician and conductor, Phillips has worked with all-state orchestras across the country and served as resident conductor for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle. His prolific output includes six levels of the Sound Innovations series, the Philharmonic eclectic styles publications, and over 200 published works for orchestra and band.
Why we love this
Phillips writes idiomatically for strings at this level, ensuring that middle-grade players get genuinely musical material rather than exercises dressed as pieces. The suite structure lets you program flexibly: teach all three movements together or extract individual selections for concerts without losing coherence. Violas and cellos finally step into the spotlight with substantial melodic writing, a welcome shift from typical Grade 2 repertoire where these voices often carry harmonic filler.
What to expect
Forest Hills Folk Suite unfolds like a lyrical journey through American pastoral landscape: "River Hymn" opens with reverent, hymn-like phrasing; "Waltz of the Hills" dances gracefully with period charm; "Barn Dance" erupts with infectious, old-time fiddle energy and joy. The writing is consistently lyrical without ever feeling saccharine, and the folk idiom gives students permission to phrase generously and play with stylistic warmth.
Who it's for
String orchestras in grades 2-3 who have solid rhythmic foundation and are ready for pieces with genuine character and melodic substance. Directors seeking material that engages all sections equally will appreciate Phillips's approach to voice balance here. This suite works equally well for festival preparation or standard concert programming.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the early Americana character by finding the legit folk roots of each movement; "River Hymn" should breathe like a hymnal, while "Barn Dance" needs rhythmic drive without rushing.
- Balance the inner voices carefully in "Waltz of the Hills," where viola and cello lines carry as much musical weight as the first violins.
- Use the three-movement structure strategically: rehearse movements individually before combining them, which also gives students concrete short-term goals and builds stamina progressively.
- The C Major and F natural focus means intonation work pays immediate dividends; lock those tonalities early so students hear the harmonic center throughout the suite.
How to use it
Program the entire suite as a concert centerpiece, or select individual movements to pair with contrasting classical repertoire for programmatic variety. The brief, self-contained movements make this ideal for festival competition, where you can feature it as a complete submission or remix the lineup depending on rehearsal progress. Align the teaching timeline with Sound Innovations Book 2 instruction if you use that curriculum; the correlation strengthens both the method work and this performance piece.
Skills your students will build
- Intonation in F and C natural across all string sections
- Sustained legit and phrasing in hymn-like material
- Viola and cello independence and confidence with primary melodic lines
- Stylistic awareness of early Americana fiddle and folk traditions
- Rhythmic precision and lift in waltz meter (3/4) and traditional dance figures