Patty's Reel: Score
By Bob Cerulli
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PR-0007188
$10.00
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Description
Patty's Reel, by Bob Cerulli, is a lively 6/8 dance tune in the style of a traditional reel. The open fifths evoke bagpipes, and the dancing rhythms create a lively spirit. This piece provides a good opportunity to instruct students about bowing variations. Each instrument group plays the melodic theme in turn with supporting animated rhythms. (1:30)
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Concert String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PR-0007188
More about this title
About the Composer: Bob Cerulli
Bob Cerulli trained at some of the country's most rigorous conservatories: the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied double bass with Roger Scott; the University of the Arts for music education; and the College of New Jersey for conducting. His early career took him through major orchestras including the Buffalo Philharmonic under Josef Kripps and principal bass positions with the Greater Trenton Symphony, New Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra, and Delaware Valley Philharmonic Orchestra.
Beyond orchestral life, Cerulli worked as a freelance musician in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, collaborating with composers and arrangers including Henry Mancini, Bill Conte, Michel LeGrand, and Marvin Hamlish, and performing on television and with world-renowned artists. His own compositions have been performed by major ensembles, including Celebration by The Philadelphia Orchestra and Romance in D Major (written for and premiered by Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Cellist William Stokking). He spent three decades teaching music in public schools and has served as Senior Adjunct Professor at Rowan College at Burlington County, where he continues to conduct orchestral performances and reading sessions at regional festivals.
Why we love this
Cerulli writes idiomatically for student orchestras without sacrificing genuine character. The rotating melodic writing ensures every section gets a musical moment to own, while the open fifths and rhythmic drive give students immediate reward for their ensemble work. Contest festivals consistently program reels at this level because they sit right at the sweet spot where form and technique reinforce each other.
What to expect
Bright and propulsive, like a Scottish dance filtered through clear orchestral textures. The melody bounces from violins to violas to cellos, each group bringing fresh energy while the others drive forward with lilting accompaniment. Within 90 seconds, the piece captures the infectious spirit of a traditional reel without requiring advanced technique.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level who are ready to explore bowing styles and sectional independence. Conductors seeking a short, energetic piece that fits a single rehearsal period without compromising musical substance will find a solid addition to the contest and festival rotation.
How to get the most out of it
- Bring out the bagpipe quality in the open fifths by keeping the lower strings clear and resonant; these intervals anchor the entire piece.
- Vary bow speed and contact point across the different sections' rhythmic figures; contrast the sustained lines with the animated accompaniment patterns through articulation choices, not volume.
- Shape the melodic theme freshly each time a new section takes it up, treating each entrance as if the tune has just arrived for the first time rather than repeating.
- Let the 6/8 pulse dance naturally; resist the urge to subdivide into straight eighth notes, which flattens the reel's essential character.
How to use it
Program Patty's Reel in a concert context that pairs folk and traditional material with other contemporary pieces; its brief length and immediate appeal make it a natural closer for a student orchestra set. It also serves as an accessible festival entry that demonstrates sectional balance and bowing control to adjudicators in a genre that never goes out of style.
Skills your students will build
- Bowing variations including sustained strokes, detached articulation, and rhythmic patterns
- Playing in 6/8 meter with natural phrasing in two rather than six
- Passing melodic lines between sections while maintaining textural clarity
- Open interval tuning and playing (open fifths)
- Ensemble balance when accompaniment patterns interact with active melodies