Kabuki Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$42.00 USD

Kabuki Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Kabuki Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-22304
Price: 42.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 1

Item: 00-22304

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This original piece features colors and tonalities seldom found in pieces for young orchestras. Written in ABA form, and very simple note-wise, this piece offers outstanding opportunities for improvement in rhythmic reading, dynamics, and pizzicato tone production. This piece was written for the training-level orchestra, but its sophisticated sound will make it appealing to second- and even third-year ensembles. Includes a third violin (viola treble clef) and piano accompaniment part.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Kabuki Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 72

ISBN10: 1-4706-5548-9

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5548-8

UPC: 038081230214

SKU: 00-22304

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years training string students from elementary through high school in California's public schools. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, he built the orchestra program from 29 students to 200 while also directing the city's elementary string initiative. For 16 years he led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, taking them on performance tours across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Beyond the podium, Meyer has shaped string education as a method book co-author (String Explorer Series, Sight-read It for Strings) and former string editor for Alfred Publishing. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, uses interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved students throughout Southern California and has earned national recognition. As a clinician, he has appeared at the A.S.T.A. National Conference, state honor orchestra workshops, and regional conferences. With nearly 200 compositions and arrangements published, Meyer is a prolific voice in contemporary string repertoire.

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Why we love this

Meyer writes for young orchestras without sacrificing sophistication. The unusual harmonic palette and tonal colors stand apart from typical Grade 1 repertoire, while the ABA structure and straightforward note reading make it entirely manageable for training-level ensembles. Contest festivals value pieces like this one that develop genuine musicianship without requiring advanced technical skills.

What to expect

The piece evokes Kabuki theater through unexpected harmonic colors and tonal textures that feel exotic without sounding chaotic. Even at its simple dynamic and note-reading level, it creates an immersive soundscape that draws listeners into a world beyond the familiar classical sound.

Who it's for

Training-level orchestras will find this piece accessible both technically and musically. Second and third-year ensembles can program it with confidence, knowing it will sound far more sophisticated than typical Grade 1 repertoire.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the pizzicato texture before adding bowed sections. Have students practice the plucking motion separately to develop even tone and consistent volume across the section.
Use the dynamic shifts to shape each phrase. Since the notation here is simple, dynamics become the primary vehicle for expression, so exaggerate the contrasts in rehearsal before pulling back to performance balance.
Pay attention to the rhythmic precision in the accompaniment parts. The piano and third violin lines anchor the ensemble, so lock in those parts first before addressing the solo voice sections.
Explore the color possibilities of the opening material. Meyer's harmonic choices create an unfamiliar sound world for young players, so listening to recordings or reference performances will help students understand what they're aiming for.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a festival piece, where the combination of accessible technical demands and striking sound will impress adjudicators. It also serves as a stepping stone in the concert season, introducing young orchestras to non-Western musical colors before moving into more traditional Western repertoire.