Pizzicato Polka: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$45.00 USD

Pizzicato Polka: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Pizzicato Polka: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6239
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Arranged by Robert D. McCashin

Grade: 3

Item: 98-ST6239

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This delightful arrangement highlights all the charm and spirit of the original by Johann (Jr.) and Josef Strauss. To add performance options consistent with some modern interpretations, indications are included for passages that may be played arco. A wonderful change of pace for your next program.

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Series: FJH String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398228652

SKU: 98-ST6239

More about this title

About the Arranger: Robert D. McCashin

Robert D. McCashin brought four decades of orchestral conducting and string pedagogy to James Madison University, where he directed the Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, and Opera Orchestras while teaching conducting and applied studio strings at the graduate level. He holds degrees in violin performance from Louisiana State University and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Arizona, and was honored with JMU's Distinguished Teacher Award in 2015.

As a prolific arranger, McCashin has published nearly 80 educational works spanning Grades 1 through 5, with many becoming standard repertoire selections and Editors' Choice winners. His background as both a performing violinist and a string specialist informs arrangements that respect instrumental voice-leading while remaining accessible to student orchestras.

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Why we love this

McCashin captures the effervescent personality of the Strauss brothers while giving you real flexibility in how your orchestra approaches it. The included arco alternatives let you shape the performance to match your ensemble's strengths, whether you emphasize the rhythmic snap of pure pizzicato or blend in bowed passages for textural variety. It's a crowd-pleaser that doesn't feel like a compromise.

What to expect

Infectious and spirited, with the crisp, percussive snap of pizzicato giving everything a playful bounce. There's real elegance underneath the lightness; this is Strauss, after all, so the melodic lines have genuine charm and the harmonic movement feels sophisticated even at Grade 3.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the early intermediate level who want a piece with genuine musical substance and character, yet one that won't demand heroic technical feats. It works equally well for concert programming and festival or contest preparation.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a clear, buoyant pulse in rehearsal; the pizzicato articulation demands rhythmic precision from every player, and a confident conductor sets that standard immediately.
If you use the arco passages, rehearse the transition carefully so the shift in texture feels intentional rather than corrective.
Balance the melody and accompaniment so the delightful character lines don't get buried under the rhythmic energy of the pizzicato sections.
Let the recorded accompaniment anchor younger players during early rehearsals, then work toward independence so the ensemble owns the spirit.

How to use it

Schedule this as a refreshing contrast to weightier repertoire on the same concert. It sits comfortably alongside a concerto or a more serious arrangement, offering your audience a moment of pure musical delight while giving your orchestra a confidence boost with something they can really nail.