Pizzicato Polka (from the ballet Sylvia): Score
From the Ballet Sylvia
By Léo Delibes / arr. Mark Williams
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PR-0000404
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Description
You may not recognize the title, but you're sure to recognize the tune! This delightful music by one of the most successful French ballet composers has been carefully re-scored for young strings. Your students will love the final exciting accelerando finish. Correlated with Strictly Strings, Book 2, page 22.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Pizzicato Polka (from the ballet Sylvia): Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling Strictly Strings
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
36
SKU:
00-PR-0000404
More about this title
About the Composer: Léo Delibes
Léo Delibes (1836-1891) was a French composer whose ballets defined the genre during the Romantic era. His gift for memorable melody and orchestration made him one of the most performed ballet composers of his time, and his works remain central to the classical ballet repertoire today.
Delibes brought sophistication and wit to dance music without sacrificing accessibility. His scores balance lyrical beauty with rhythmic vitality, making them equally valuable for young musicians learning to shape phrases and respond to dramatic pacing.
Why we love this
Mark Williams's arrangement captures the sparkle and playfulness of Delibes's original while keeping the technical demands appropriate for developing string players. That closing accelerando is pure joy to conduct; it builds naturally from the rhythm and gives students a tangible goal to work toward, making rehearsals feel purposeful and rewarding.
What to expect
Bouncy and bright, with a mischievous energy that keeps audiences smiling from start to finish. The pizzicato texture gives the piece a charming lightness, and that final acceleration sends everyone home happy.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors working with Grade 2 ensembles who want an engaging arrangement of recognizable music that doesn't sacrifice musical substance. This works beautifully for students in their second or third year of instruction who are ready for slightly more sophisticated phrasing and coordinated ensemble playing.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening phrases with gentle dynamic contours; the pizzicato articulation can easily flatten if every note lands with the same weight. Let the natural pulse breathe.
- Lock the accelerando sections early in rehearsal so players understand the target tempo before attempting the passage at full speed. Mark clear increments on the conductor score and use those as checkpoints during run-throughs.
- Balance the inner voices carefully during passages where the melody moves between sections. Young players often disappear when they're not on top; remind them that supporting the tune is just as musical as playing it.
- Maintain articulate pizzicato throughout; sloppy left-hand placement muddies the crisp character this piece demands. Spend time on evenness and clarity rather than speed.
How to use it
Perfect as a concert opener or a energetic closer; it fits comfortably on spring pops programs or young musicians' showcase concerts. Place it alongside other accessible masterwork arrangements to demonstrate your students' growing musicianship without requiring major technical leaps in the program.
Skills your students will build
- Articulate pizzicato control and evenness
- Responding to tempo changes and conducting clear accelerando
- Balancing melody and accompaniment voices
- Phrasing in a tuneful, song-like style
- Reading score notation from conductor perspective (for rehearsal awareness)