North Star to Freedom (In Honor of the Underground Railroad): Score
In Honor of the Underground Railroad
By Soon Hee Newbold
Grade: 3
Item: 98-DST6170S
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Description
Explore the rich and important history of the Underground Railroad in this serious festival work. Opening with a solemn chorale, themes in the cello and bass soon take on the character of traditional spirituals. As the piece moves into a lively allegro section, the music becomes much more dramatic, depicting the excitement, nervousness, and extreme courage displayed by those who were able to escape to freedom. Inspirational! (4:20)
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH String Orchestra
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6170S
More about this title
About the Composer: Soon Hee Newbold
Soon Hee Newbold began her musical training at five on piano, adding violin at seven, and went on to perform as a concert artist with professional ensembles across the globe. Her compositional voice draws from diverse cultural and ethnic traditions shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, giving her work distinctive authenticity and emotional depth.
Newbold's music reaches ensembles at every level, from professional orchestras performing at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center to beginning elementary groups in schools nationwide. Beyond the concert hall, she has worked as a conductor and clinician throughout the United States and internationally in countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, and China. Her creative work also extends to film scoring in Hollywood, where her compositions enhance visual storytelling across multiple media projects.
Why we love this
Newbold crafts a work that honors historical weight without sacrificing musical engagement. The structural arc from reverent opening through spiritual themes to driving allegro gives your students a narrative to inhabit musically, making this far more than program filler for a spring concert.
What to expect
The opening stillness carries weight and reverence before the music gradually awakens into spiritual song. Once the allegro arrives, urgency and determination pulse through the ensemble, capturing both the danger and the profound hope of the historical moment being depicted.
Who it's for
String orchestras working at the Grade 3 level who want meaningful festival or contest material that combines musical substance with historical significance. This score serves directors who value programmatic depth and want their students to engage with serious themes while still building fundamental ensemble skills.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening chorale with clear dynamic control in the upper strings; let the weight of the music speak rather than rushing the tempo.
- Balance the cello and bass thematic material in the spiritual section so it registers as a unified voice; these lines carry the emotional center of the piece.
- In the allegro, maintain rhythmic precision in the lower strings to anchor the excitement without letting the energy become frantic.
- Use dynamic contrast between sections to reinforce the narrative arc; the transition into the fast section should feel like a genuine shift in mood and momentum.
How to use it
This works exceptionally well as a centerpiece for concert programming that explores American history or social justice themes. The 4:20 duration and Grade 3 accessibility make it suitable for a spring festival appearance, and its serious character distinguishes it from lighter works while remaining well within the technical reach of developing ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing multiple melodic lines within the string choir
- Dynamic control and phrasing in sustained passages
- Ensemble precision across tempo and character changes
- Interpreting programmatic intent through musical expression
- Coordinating rhythmic independence in the lower strings