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Mystère: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD
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Mystère: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Mystère: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

By Shirl Jae Atwell

Grade: 3

Item: 00-43840
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Description
"Arousing wonder and inquisitiveness"---that is mystère. And this piece exemplifies, through music, the wonder and incomprehension of a mystery with melodies and counter melodies throughout. (3:15)

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Additional Details
Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 124
UPC: 038081497280
SKU: 00-43840

More about this title

About the Composer: Shirl Jae Atwell

Shirl Jae Atwell

Shirl Jae Atwell holds degrees from Kansas State Teachers College and the University of Louisville, where she studied music theory and composition. She completed additional post-graduate composition study at the University of South Carolina and has established herself as a prolific composer across multiple genres, from opera and ballet to orchestral and chamber works.

Atwell's achievements include the 1984 Clifford Shaw Memorial Award for Kentucky Composers, a 1996 National School Orchestra Association composition contest win for her string orchestra piece Modus á Four, and a 1997 Texas Orchestra Directors Association contest victory. Her works have been premiered by professional and educational ensembles across the country, and six of her scores are housed in the Paris Bibliothèque Internationale de Musique Contemporaine. The televised production of her ballet Lucy received an Emmy Award for Arts & Culture in 2000.

Why we love this

Atwell builds genuine musical intrigue through layered counterpoint rather than relying on sudden dramatic gestures. The interwoven melodies create a soundscape that rewards careful listening and holds student interest without demanding technical virtuosity, making it ideal for ensembles ready to explore textural complexity.

What to expect

Mystère unfolds like a musical puzzle, with melodies weaving in and out of one another in ways that intrigue rather than overwhelm. The piece captures genuine wonder—not the excitement of a dramatic moment, but the quiet contemplation of something not fully understood, with each instrumental voice adding a piece to the larger picture.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the intermediate level who are ready to explore ensemble balance and musical storytelling. This piece works for ensembles that can handle independent melodic lines without losing cohesion and who want to program something engaging for both concert and festival settings.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the counter melodies carefully during rehearsal. Mark which section carries the primary line in each phrase so violins, violas, and cellos understand their role in creating the overall sense of mystery.
  • Shape the piece with gradual dynamic swells rather than sharp attacks. The sense of wonder builds through gentle intensification, not dramatic gestures.
  • Give sustained notes a gentle vibrato to enhance the atmospheric quality. This adds expressiveness without requiring advanced technical demands.
  • Let the ensemble experience the full arc in rehearsal before drilling sections. Understanding how each moment contributes to the overall mystery helps musicians commit to the interpretation.

How to use it

Use this as a concert centerpiece for a program themed around lyrical string writing or musical storytelling. Its moderate length (3:15) and festival-friendly grade level make it equally suitable for competition or community concert performances.

Skills your students will build

  • Managing independent melodic lines within ensemble balance
  • Sustaining tone quality while maintaining intonation in exposed passages
  • Shaping musical phrases that unfold gradually rather than through sudden dynamic shifts
  • Listening to and blending with countermelodies in different instrumental sections
  • Interpreting abstract musical concepts (mystery and wonder) through ensemble playing

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