Obsidian: String Orchestra, Full Score

Obsidian settles you into a minor-key groove with an exotic, slightly ominous edge. The Middle Eastern coloring gives it mystery and sophistication, while the rock instrumentation grounds it in energy and attitude.

String orchestras ready to move beyond traditional classical repertoire and students who respond to contemporary rock-influenced writing. This works especially well for programs with electric players looking for a legitimate chamber vehicle.

• Balance the string lines so the melodic content in the Middle Eastern passages doesn't get buried. These moments are brief and deserve clarity.
• If you're using acoustic drums, rehearse the drum kit player separately with a click or metronome first. String players will lock on faster once the percussion part is solid.
• Lean into the dramatic dynamic shifts. The dark mood relies on contrast, so don't shy away from the softer passages or the sudden peaks.
• Electric instruments should blend, not dominate. The orchestration is built around strings as the foundation; amplified guitars or basses should support that framework.

Program this as a standalone anchor piece for a concert that explores non-classical idioms, or pair it with other genre-crossing work to show your students' range. Its dramatic intensity also makes it an excellent closer or act-break selection.

• Reading and performing minor key tonality with modal inflections
• Balancing strings against percussion and amplified instruments
• Responding to rock-inflected rhythmic drive while maintaining string articulation
• Executing dynamic contrast and sustain in a non-classical context