Go Tell It on the Mountain: String Bass
With "Children, Go Where I Send Thee"
Traditional African-American Spiritual / arr. Andrew H. Dabczynski
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0017685_SB
$5.99
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Description
Beginning string players will delight in playing this energetic rendition of the well-known Christmastime spiritual, "Go Tell It on the Mountain". Paired with the equally familiar "Children Go Where I Send Thee", this arrangement by Andrew H. Dabczynski shares interesting melodies among all sections. An upbeat bass line, along with plenty of finger-snapping rhythms will make this a Christmas concert favorite for students and audiences alike.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Go Tell It on the Mountain: 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:
66
SKU:
00-PC-0017685_SB
More about this title
About the Arranger: Andrew H. Dabczynski
Andrew H. Dabczynski served as Emeritus Professor of Music Education at Brigham Young University, where he founded and directed the "New Horizons Orchestra," a beginning string ensemble that also functioned as a training ground for string educators. His contributions to music education earned him BYU's Joseph E. White Fellowship for Teaching and Learning, and in 2005 the Utah chapter of the American String Teachers Association recognized him as "Higher Education Teacher of the Year."
Dabczynski's career spans public school teaching and administration across New York and Michigan, faculty positions at the Eastman School of Music, and performance as a violist with regional orchestras including the Rochester Philharmonic and Hartford Symphony. He co-authored the String Explorer method series, widely adopted for beginning string instruction, and has long championed folk music and traditional music transmission as areas of pedagogical focus.
Why we love this
An arranger who truly understands beginning string technique has crafted this pairing of familiar spirituals with melody distribution that keeps every section engaged and sounding full. The upbeat bass line and rhythmic finger-snapping passages add genuine character without overcomplicating the parts, making this feel like a celebration rather than a training exercise.
What to expect
Bright and joyful, with an infectious rhythmic pulse that propels the music forward. The arrangement honors the spiritual tradition while inviting players into the groove through finger-snapping and an active bass line, creating a performance that feels collaborative rather than formal.
Who it's for
Beginning string orchestras at the Grade 1.5 to 2.5 level who want accessible repertoire with genuine musical payoff. This works for conductors seeking Christmas concert material that feels festive and energetic without demanding advanced technique or lengthy rehearsal time.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody carefully between sections as it moves around the ensemble; use the score to identify which players carry the tune in each phrase and adjust bow weight accordingly.
- Establish the finger-snapping rhythms as a distinct textural layer in rehearsal, separate from the bowed parts, so both elements land cleanly and independently.
- Treat the bass line as a groove that anchors the energy; resist the urge to rush, and lock it with steady pulse cues from the podium.
- Shape each melodic phrase with deliberate arrival points rather than playing through; this arrangement rewards musical intent and helps the audience follow the familiar tunes.
How to use it
Pair this with other spirituals or holiday selections to build a substantial Christmas concert segment that demonstrates your string students' musicianship in repertoire audiences know and love. The upbeat character also makes it effective as a concert opener or finale, catching attention immediately and ending on celebratory energy.
Skills your students will build
- Tracking melodic movement across different instrumental sections
- Playing rhythmic pizzicato patterns independently from bowed phrases
- Maintaining steady tempo while balancing simultaneous rhythmic and melodic material
- Dynamic shaping within diatonic, first-position melodic lines
- Ensemble listening and blend in multi-part texture