Great Times A Comin': String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$40.00 USD

Great Times A Comin': String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Great Times A Comin': String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6291
Price: 40.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By William Owens

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-ST6291

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This lively original work embodies the character and spirit of the African-American spiritual. Combining themes of struggle, oppression, and hope for the future, the music begins quite vigorously before easing into a haunting middle section. Soon after, the music returns to its joyous nature, which is carried through to the spirited ending. Includes optional percussion.

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Series: FJH Beginning Strings

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398230297

SKU: 98-ST6291

More about this title

About the Composer: William Owens

William Owens brings three decades of classroom experience to his compositional voice. A VanderCook College of Music graduate and Distinguished Alumnus, he spent 30 years leading bands in Texas before retiring in 2014. His catalog exceeds 300 published works for concert band, string orchestra, and small ensemble, many of which have become staples in young ensemble repertoires across the country.

Owens has established himself as both a clinician and conductor with a reputation for practical, pedagogically sound writing. His compositions appear on required music lists nationally and internationally, and several have been analyzed in educational texts. He holds memberships in ASCAP, TMEA, ATSSB, and Phi Beta Mu International, and has received commissions from South Plains College, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Bandmasters Association. He currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Why we love this

Owens captures the emotional arc of the spiritual tradition without oversimplifying it. The structure moves from vigorous opening through introspection to joyous resolution, giving young players a chance to explore dynamic contrast and emotional storytelling on instruments. At Grade 1.5, the technical demands stay manageable while the programmatic content rewards genuine musical engagement.

What to expect

The piece moves like a lived story. It opens with urgent, spirited energy, pulls inward into something haunting and reflective, then rises again toward hope and celebration. The optional percussion adds textural warmth and helps young players anchor the ensemble's pulse through longer phrases.

Who it's for

Beginning string orchestras in the Grade 1.5 range will find this piece accessible yet musically substantial. It works well for groups ready to explore thematic development and emotional expression beyond simple unison playing.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening vigorously by committing fully to the tempo and dynamic contrast; young orchestras often play too cautiously at the start, which flattens the character
Balance ensemble sound in the haunting middle section by having lower strings sustain with warmth while treble voices maintain clear articulation
Bring the return to joyous material into sharp relief by resetting the tempo and energy; a brief breath in the orchestra can signal the shift to your players

How to use it

Program this as a concert centerpiece or opening selection on a mixed repertoire concert, where its emotional scope and accessibility will showcase your orchestra's range. It pairs well with spirituals arranged for strings or other multicultural works, creating a thematic program around folk traditions and their contemporary interpretations.

Skills your students will build

Dynamic contrast (vigorous forte passages to sustained piano sections)
Phrasing across longer musical lines with emotional intention
Listening and balancing ensemble texture (sustaining lower voices against articulate upper lines)
Interpreting programmatic content through instrumental performance