Goblin Dance: Cello
Goblin Dance: Cello Sheet Music Preview

Goblin Dance: Cello

Viola Section Feature

By Doug Spata

Grade: 2

Item: 00-PC-0000296_VC1
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Description
Violas take center stage in this fun and colorful section feature. The funky pizzicato groove laid down by the violins, cellos and basses, combined with rhythmic challenges and chromatic notes, makes this piece one your students will want to play again and again. Replace the orchestra parts with the piano accompaniment and Goblin Dance becomes a viola solo.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Goblin Dance: Cello 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: 72
SKU: 00-PC-0000296_VC1

More about this title

About the Composer: Doug Spata

Doug Spata

Doug Spata trained as a clarinetist but found his compositional voice through his years in the orchestra classroom. That experience transformed him into a prolific string composer whose works have earned respect from educators and musicians across the country and internationally. Beyond student repertoire, his catalog spans opera, ballet, symphonies, and chamber works for ensembles of every size.

Why we love this

Spata understands what makes students want to play a piece multiple times: a groove that locks in, a featured part that feels important, and musical challenges that stay just within reach. The viola spotlight here is genuinely rewarding to perform, and the funky rhythm section beneath it keeps rehearsals energized rather than dutiful.

What to expect

Mischievous and propulsive. The funky pizzicato underneath creates a slightly offbeat, playful energy that feels contemporary rather than classical, while the chromatic writing in the violas adds a touch of quirkiness and surprise. It's the musical equivalent of a good-natured prank.

Who it's for

String orchestras in grades 2-3 looking for a piece that gives violas meaningful material and doesn't ask them to sit in the background. This works equally well for ensembles preparing a Halloween program or seeking fresh novelty repertoire that students will actually enjoy playing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the pizzicato groove in the accompanying strings first. Once violins, cellos, and basses lock in rhythmically, the violas' chromatic lines will sit cleanly on top.
  • Isolate the chromatic passages in viola rehearsals before full orchestra run-throughs. Mark the exact starting pitches and have the section audiate each chromatic line in tempo.
  • Bring dynamic shape to the pizzicato foundation. Even a subtle crescendo and diminuendo within the accompaniment pattern prevents the groove from flattening.
  • Consider the piano accompaniment arrangement for rehearsals when full string sections are unavailable, or to support younger orchestras needing a stronger harmonic anchor.

How to use it

Program this as a standalone Halloween-themed moment or as part of a fall concert that needs a gear shift into lighter territory. The novelty style makes it an ideal bridge piece between more substantial works, giving audiences a chance to smile while your violas get their moment.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and performing chromatic passages in context
  • Maintaining rhythmic precision in pizzicato accompaniment patterns
  • Balancing a featured section against a supporting harmonic and rhythmic foundation
  • Executing rhythmic challenges specific to the viola part with confidence

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