Obsidian: String Orchestra, Score and Parts

Dark, hypnotic, with an exotic edge that makes the minor key feel expansive rather than mournful. The rhythm has weight and deliberation, pulling listeners into a moody landscape that feels both ancient and modern.

String orchestras at the 3.5 grade level ready to venture beyond traditional repertoire. This works for groups with mixed acoustic and electric capability, though it reads clearly on acoustics alone if needed.

• Lean into the drum kit. This isn't just accompaniment; the percussion is structural. Make sure your kit player locks in early in rehearsal so the strings know exactly where the groove sits.
• Explore the tonal difference between pizzicato and arco passages. The piece thrives on contrast, so exaggerate the shift between sections rather than smoothing over it.
• If you're using electric strings, balance is critical. Run a rehearsal with just acoustics first to establish the piece's foundation, then layer in electrics gradually so students understand what they're building on.

Program Obsidian on a concert that plays with contrasts, or use it as a closing piece that leaves audiences in a different headspace than where they started. It's also a natural fit for festival competition where the dramatic presentation and instrumentation create a memorable impression.

• Reading modal and Middle Eastern melodic contours
• Maintaining rhythmic precision against a fixed percussion groove
• Balancing articulation between pizzicato and sustained bowing
• Blending acoustic and electric timbres within an ensemble