In the Fading Light of Autumn: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC])
In the Fading Light of Autumn: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC]) Sheet Music Preview

In the Fading Light of Autumn: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC])

By Ralph Ford

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-PC-0002236_VN3
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Description
The work is a tone poem representing the beauty and serenity of the early autumn evenings in the western provinces of Canada. A number of tranquil effects are enhanced with the addition of wind and percussion instruments. However, it's just as engaging for strings alone. A very moving musical experience. (3:10) A Federation Festivals 2020-2024 selection.

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Additional Details
Series: Belwin Intermediate String/Full Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 140
SKU: 00-PC-0002236_VN3

More about this title

About the Composer: Ralph Ford

Ralph Ford

Ralph Ford has shaped music education and professional music-making for nearly three decades as a university instructor, conductor, and clinician. His career spans composition, arranging, and media production; he has created over 250 titles for orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band as an exclusive composer and arranger for Alfred Music's Belwin division, with performances by school, university, military, and professional ensembles worldwide.

Beyond the concert hall, Ford's work includes broadcast composition, live radio direction, commercial jingles, and television production. He began his professional arranging career at fifteen and served as Director of Jazz Ensemble I while still an undergraduate at Troy State University, a role he maintained for fifteen years. He holds a Master of Science degree and has taught orchestration, arranging, theory, and applied brass alongside his prolific composing practice.

Why we love this

Ford captures something genuinely difficult to pull off at this grade level: atmospheric depth without losing clarity. The piece works as a complete orchestral statement, but the optional string-alone arrangement means you can program it whether your winds and percussion are ready or not. Its selection as a Federation Festivals repertoire choice speaks to its musical substance, not just its approachability.

What to expect

Serene and introspective, with the stillness of autumn dusk settling over the landscape. Delicate orchestration creates a sense of fading daylight while maintaining emotional weight and forward motion. The work balances restraint with lyricism, asking musicians to listen and support one another rather than dominate.

Who it's for

Intermediate orchestras seeking repertoire that builds musicianship without excessive technical demands. Directors preparing festival or contest submissions will find this piece meets Federation standards while offering genuine artistic reward. It works equally well as a concert closer or the centerpiece of an autumn program.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the tranquil effects by letting the string section sustain without overpowering; support them with winds and percussion, not against them.
  • Explore both versions (full orchestra and strings alone) in rehearsal to discover which suits your ensemble's strengths and your concert vision.
  • Shape the phrasing across the three-minute arc so the piece breathes like early evening itself, not as a series of separate moments.

How to use it

Open a fall concert with this piece to establish an unhurried, reflective mood before moving to more spirited work. It pairs naturally with other seasonal or landscape-inspired repertoire and gives intermediate orchestras a substantial, contest-ready selection that doesn't require the heavy technical lift of Grade 3 or 4 pieces. Its 3:10 length makes it ideal filler or opener.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining long tones with consistent tone quality
  • Blending orchestral colors across string and wind sections
  • Shaping phrase arcs over extended passages
  • Responding to subtle dynamic and textural shifts
  • Reading and executing parts in a transparent orchestration

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