Popular (from "Wicked"): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Stephen Schwartz / Arranged by Ted Ricketts
Grade: 3-4
Item: 35-PK00135905
$50.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Full Score | $7.50 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Violin 2 | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Violin 3 (Viola Treble Clef) | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Viola | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Cello | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Bass | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Piano | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Percussion 1 | $7.00 | |
| Popular (from "Wicked") - Percussion 2 | $7.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
From one of the most powerful and successful Broadway musicals in recent years, Stephen Schwartz's "Wicked" features a magnificent array of songs filled with grit as well as humor. One of the show's high points is this upbeat and entertaining production number. Dur: 2:30
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00135905
More about this title
About the Composer: Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz's career spans five decades of composing for stage and screen, with an output that consistently balances accessibility with sophistication. His work on "Wicked," "Pippin," and "Godspell" demonstrates a gift for crafting songs that lodge themselves in the listener's memory while serving larger dramatic moments. For music educators, Schwartz represents a composer who writes with genuine respect for performers at all levels, creating arrangements that challenge without overwhelming.
Why we love this
Ricketts's arrangement captures everything that makes "Popular" such a showstopper: infectious forward momentum, accessible string writing that lets younger players succeed, and room for character and personality in the performance. Programming a Broadway number of this quality and accessibility gives your orchestra a chance to play something instantly recognizable while still engaging with serious arranging craft.
What to expect
Bright, propulsive, and full of the theatrical confidence that made "Wicked" a cultural phenomenon. The arrangement sparkles with energy while remaining grounded in solid string writing, giving players the satisfaction of executing something genuinely appealing.
Who it's for
String orchestras in grades 3 through 4 looking for a Broadway selection that plays reliably and excites an audience. It works equally well for programs seeking to expand beyond classical repertoire or for concert openers that grab attention from the first note.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo steady and buoyant throughout the two-and-a-half-minute span. The energy of this number depends on forward motion, not rushing.
- Balance the melody across sections so the tune remains the focal point; this arrangement works best when no single voice dominates the harmonic support.
- Shape the phrase endings with subtle dynamic pulls rather than hard cutoffs. This maintains the song's theatrical momentum while giving players agency in their expression.
- Use the recorded accompaniment as a rehearsal tool to lock in the groove, then gradually move away from it so your ensemble owns the rhythmic integrity.
How to use it
Open a pops concert with this to establish an immediate connection with your audience, or pair it with other contemporary music selections to show the breadth of the string repertoire. Its two-and-a-half-minute runtime makes it an ideal encore piece or a dependable filler if programming requires a quick, crowd-pleasing change of pace.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo across changing harmonic textures
- Navigating rhythmic counterpoint between sections while keeping the melody prominent
- Shaping phrases in a contemporary idiom
- Balancing articulation and dynamics within an upbeat, driven style