Haunted Places: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

McBrien captures something authentic about middle school experience here: the delicious thrill of being spooked by old houses and shadowy corners. Rather than relying on cheap shock effects, the orchestration creates genuine atmosphere that keeps players engaged in storytelling. The Grade 3 writing is imaginative without becoming gratuitous, making it a standout novelty title that respects both the students playing and the audience listening.

Playfully unsettling. The music evokes cobwebs and creaking floorboards, but never loses sight of the excitement and imagination that drew you to those scary places as a child. Menacing harmonies soften into moments of curiosity, capturing that peculiar thrill of being just frightened enough to feel alive.

Conductors working with Grade 3 string orchestras who want seasonal programming that engages student musicians beyond the familiar Halloween clichés. This piece works equally well for musicians exploring their ability to create mood and atmosphere as for ensembles building confidence with novelty repertoire.

• Build dynamics gradually through the piece rather than jumping to full volume early; the scarier moments land harder when they emerge from restraint.
• Balance the violin sections so that melodic lines sing above the accompaniment, especially during the more lyrical passages that suggest wonder alongside spookiness.
• Coordinate bowings within sections beforehand so visual clarity enhances the musical storytelling; unified strokes underscore the collective energy of the ensemble.
• Experiment with slight tempo flexibility at structural peaks to heighten dramatic tension, but return to a steady pulse during the more straightforward sections.

Anchor a fall concert with this title as the centerpiece of a thematic set exploring folk imagery and American storytelling traditions. The 6:40 duration gives it weight without dominating your program, and its accessibility makes it an effective audience bridge between more formal classical works.

• Reading and executing dynamic variation to enhance emotional storytelling
• Creating tonal color through articulation and bow control
• Balancing ensemble sound between melodic and accompanimental voices
• Responding to conductor cues that shape phrasing and dramatic timing
• Sustaining focus through programmatic narrative across a substantial work