Four Portraits for Strings - Robber's Roost, Call of the Canyon, The Rinky Dink Saloon, A Toast to Santa: 2nd Violin
Robber's Roost, Call of the Canyon, The Rinky Dink Saloon, A Toast to Santa
By Dylan Fixmer
Grade: 4
Item: 98-PC-RWS2393_VN2
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Description
Inspired by the whimsical cowboy artwork of Lloyd Mitchell, Four Portraits for Strings captures Mitchell's cartoonish, impressionistic style and romanticized notions of the Wild West. Throughout the piece, the drama of outlaws, cowboys, saloons, horses and even Santa unfolds with fun and exciting melodies, colors, and textures that capture both the grandeur and stillness of desert landscapes. Saddle up for a fresh western piece that will surely be a crowd and orchestra favorite.
Original Item#: RWS-2393-00
Original Item#: RWS-2393-00
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Symphonic Strings
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PC-RWS2393_VN2
More about this title
Why we love this
Fixmer captures the visual wit of Lloyd Mitchell's artwork in sound, creating a piece that feels as playful and deliberately cartoonish as its inspiration. Each movement stands alone as a distinct character sketch, giving you four distinct moments to program without the commitment of a full-length suite. String orchestras at this level rarely get writing that's this entertaining while remaining musically substantive.
What to expect
Like riding through dusty buttes at sunset, then stopping to share a drink in a ramshackle saloon. The music swings between grand western vistas and intimate, whimsical moments, painted with bright colors and unexpected textures. Even when the music is silly, it never sounds cheap.
Who it's for
String orchestras seeking fresh concert material that engages audiences without talking down to players. This works for community orchestras, school ensembles, and intermediate youth orchestras looking for a crowd-pleasing encore or main-stage novelty that doesn't sacrifice musical integrity.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the pictorial storytelling. Each movement should feel like a scene change; the transitions between portraits are opportunities to reset the ensemble's energy and character.
- Balance clarity with color. The impressionistic textures come from individual voices articulating crisply rather than blending into a wash. Encourage players to voice their lines distinctly, especially in the thinner passages.
- Shape the melodies generously. These are folk-inflected, romantic lines that can withstand expressive rubato. Resist the urge to play them mechanically just because the piece is programmatic.
- Use the full dynamic range. The contrast between grand gestures and delicate desert stillness depends on genuine piano and forte work, not just mezzo-piano and mezzo-forte.
How to use it
Program this as a palate-cleanser between heavier works, or make it your closing number if you want audiences leaving with smiles. The four movements allow you flexibility: pair "Robber's Roost" with other action-driven pieces, or use "Call of the Canyon" and "A Toast to Santa" to bookend a concert with contrasting moods.
Skills your students will build
- Characterization through articulation and dynamic shaping
- Managing contrasting textures and spatial awareness within a section
- Reading the full orchestral range (expanding comfort with high and low positions)
- Rhythmic precision in folk-inflected melodies
- Responding to programmatic cues and visual storytelling