Loudon Tango: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Loudon Tango: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Loudon Tango: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-50250220
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

For String Orchestra, Piano, and Percussion (optional)

By Kevin R. Berdine

Grade: 2.5

Item: 36-50250220

$55.00

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This piece was written to celebrate the Loudoun County Public Schools' orchestra's inaugural school year. Administration, staff, families, and students worked tirelessly to bring orchestral music to the schools. Kevin R. Berdine's Loudon Tango was chosen by the students as dance music had been their favorite music to play. Written in the string friendly key of D minor, this lively tango includes interesting parts for all sections and an idiomatic percussion ensemble accompaniment. (3:00)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Loudon Tango: 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: LudwigMasters Developing Strings

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

UPC: 659359599453

SKU: 36-50250220

Instrumentation: String Orchestra, Piano, and up to four optional Percussion

More about this title

About the Composer: Kevin R. Berdine

Kevin R. Berdine is a composer and arranger whose work centers on making orchestral music accessible and engaging for developing ensembles. His compositions often emerge from specific educational contexts, written directly in response to what students need and what communities celebrate. Berdine understands the practical demands of school orchestras and writes accordingly, prioritizing playability without sacrificing musicianship.

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Why we love this

Berdine wrote this piece directly in response to student input, which means you're teaching music that your ensemble actually wants to play. The tango idiom gives students rhythmic vitality and dance-like phrasing without requiring advanced technical facility. D minor sits comfortably across all string sections, and the optional percussion parts let you scale the ensemble sound up or down based on who you have available.

What to expect

The tango unfolds with sophisticated rhythmic drive and dark, minor-key elegance. You'll hear syncopated figures dance across the ensemble, supported by a lively harmonic foundation that keeps the music moving forward with infectious energy and style.

Who it's for

This score and parts set is designed for school string orchestras at the intermediate level who want to program engaging, contemporary music. Whether your ensemble is in its first year or well-established, this piece rewards focused rehearsal with a performance that sounds polished and genuinely musical.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the rhythm section early. The piano and percussion drive the tango's forward momentum, so rehearse them together first, then add strings in layers.
Shape the melodic lines with the characteristic lilt of tango rhythm. Avoid playing it too straight; lean into the syncopation.
Balance the optional percussion carefully. These parts add sparkle and authenticity, but the strings should always carry the harmonic and melodic weight.
Use the three-minute length to your advantage in rehearsal. The piece is long enough to build stamina and musicality but short enough to drill sections without fatigue.

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener or closer to showcase your ensemble's rhythmic sophistication and their command of contemporary idiom. The piece also works well on a mixed repertoire concert alongside standard classical selections, as it bridges traditional orchestral technique with modern music-making.