Korobushka: Score
Traditional Russian Folk Song / arr. Michael Story
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0004154
$10.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Based on an 1861 poem by Nikolay Nekrasov, the composer of this Russian folk song, also known as "The Peddler," is unknown. Brought to America by Russian immigrants in the early 1900s, the charm of this old world melody will brighten any concert. In a bright 2/4 meter, the energy flows start to finish. Delightful! (2:00)
This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Korobushka: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
184
SKU:
00-PR-0004154
More about this title
About the Arranger: Michael Story
Michael Story is a prolific composer and arranger whose work spans concert band, wind ensemble, and educational settings. His arrangements for young bands are known for maintaining musical integrity while keeping technical demands accessible, making standard repertoire and folk melodies approachable for developing ensembles.
Why we love this
Story's treatment of this Russian melody respects the tune's character while writing parts that sit naturally under young players' hands. The bright 2/4 energy sustains momentum throughout, making it an excellent choice for bands still building stamina and ensemble cohesion. It reads as a complete, satisfying performance, not a simplified version.
What to expect
The brightness of 2/4 time and major key harmony evokes a street musician or village marketplace, cheerful and unpretentious. There's an old-world warmth to the melody paired with the straightforward energy of a folk tune that's traveled generations and continents. The piece feels like a musical postcard from another time and place.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands with roughly 40-60 players who want a crowd-pleasing encore or festival selection that doesn't require advanced technique. The piece works equally well for ensembles in their first or second year of playing together, since the rhythmic pulse and melodic simplicity keep players confident while still sounding polished.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo moving forward; resist slowing down during the melody statements. The folk song character depends on the rhythmic drive that 2/4 creates.
- Balance the woodwind sections carefully when they carry the main theme. The tune's charm emerges when the line sings over the underlying harmonic support.
- Listen for clarity in the inner voices, especially in the first clarinet and trumpet parts. Young bands often rush past countermelodies; making them audible strengthens the overall texture.
- Shape the phrase endings with a gentle diminuendo rather than stopping abruptly. This supports the flowing quality the arranger built into the piece.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert when you want the audience immediately engaged and smiling. Its two-minute length makes it perfect for filling out a set alongside a more substantial work, or as a palate-cleanser between heavier pieces. The Contest/Festival designation also positions it well for spring festivals and adjudicated events where accessible Grade 2 fare stands out.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo in 2/4 meter across multiple sections
- Balancing melodic line with harmonic accompaniment
- Sustaining air support to shape phrase endings musically
- Listening to ensemble intonation within moving harmonic progressions