Overture to Rienzi: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Richard Wagner / arr. Robert D McCashin
Grade: 4.5
Item: 98-DST6415
$60.00
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Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Overture to Rienzi: Score | $11.00 | |
| Overture to Rienzi: Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| Overture to Rienzi: Violin 2 | $7.00 | |
| Overture to Rienzi: Viola | $7.00 | |
| Overture to Rienzi: Violoncello | $7.00 | |
| Overture to Rienzi: Double Bass | $7.00 |
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Description
Relive the opera overture that lead to one of Wagner's earliest successes! This setting fully retains all the thematic, rhythmic and musical intent of the original orchestra version. Orchestrated to stay true to the vast scope and dimension of the original setting, this exciting work will compliment any program as an overture or as a big-finish closer!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH String Orchestra
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6415
More about this title
About the Composer: Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) revolutionized opera and orchestral music through his innovations in harmony, leitmotif, and dramatic orchestration. His early operas, including Rienzi, established him as a major compositional force before he went on to create the monumental Ring Cycle and other works that fundamentally changed Western music.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the grandeur and forward momentum of Wagner's original orchestration without requiring a full symphony orchestra, making a genuine masterwork accessible to strong string programs. The McCashin setting preserves the dramatic weight and thematic integrity that made this overture a launching point for Wagner's career, giving students an opportunity to perform a work with real historical significance.
What to expect
Heroic and propulsive, with the kind of sweeping melodic gestures and harmonic momentum that defined Romantic opera. The music surges and builds, pulling the listener forward through moments of triumph and intensity, landing with the force of genuine operatic drama.
Who it's for
String orchestras working at Grade 4.5 who want to program a significant orchestral work with genuine artistic substance. This setting serves ensembles looking to build repertoire depth without abandoning the scope and drama that challenges strong students.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic lines across your sections; this piece asks multiple instrumental voices to carry substantial thematic material, and clarity depends on knowing which line leads at any given moment.
- Control the transitions between tempo sections and key areas with precision; Wagner builds momentum through architectural shifts, not just through increased speed.
- Shape long phrases with intention rather than playing through them mechanically; the overture's power comes from vocal-style line continuity even in orchestral dress.
- Lock rhythmic unison passages so they land with the weight this music demands, especially in dramatic climactic moments where all sections need to move as one.
How to use it
Use this as an opening statement on a concert that needs immediate dramatic impact, or as a finale that sends the audience out with energy and substance. It works equally well anchoring a festival performance or sharing a program with other Romantic-era works where its orchestral ambition complements the surrounding repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic lines with consistent tone and phrase shape
- Reading extended passages with layered thematic material and tracking which voice carries the primary line
- Executing rhythmic precision in unison and homophonic sections at faster tempos
- Understanding leitmotif and thematic development across an extended form
- Balancing section weight to support dramatic architecture rather than simply playing louder