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Professor Wigstein's Amazing Melody Machine: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Professor Wigstein's Amazing Melody Machine: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Professor Wigstein's Amazing Melody Machine: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-22332
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-22332

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This fun and original piece for string orchestra introduces the technique of "tone painting." It depicts inventor Professor Wigstein's proud creation, a machine that plays some of the world's most famous melodies. The introduction portrays the ceremonious (and rather pompous) unveiling of the amazing machine. With four turns of its crank, the machine comes to life, grinding and churning as it prepares to produce a melody. "Ode to Joy" is heard, played pizzicato by the entire orchestra, and appropriately accompanied by generic "machine" sounds (ratchet and bell). Soon, the machine winds down, and the melody comes to a halt. Once again, the machine is cranked, and begins working at another tune; "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" is heard. The machine winds down again, only to be cranked up a third time. The melody to Offenbach's "Can-Can" emerges. Midway through the tune, however, something goes wrong with the machine. Fragments of all three melodies are heard (in a variety of clashing keys) as the machine goes out of control, eventually exploding. A few hisses, and some dying moans are emitted. Finally, Chopin's "Funeral March" is heard as the machine plays its own death knoll, dying with a final soft hiss.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 132

UPC: 038081230436

SKU: 00-22332

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years in public school string education, building the orchestra program at Oak Avenue Intermediate School from 29 students to 200 and overseeing elementary strings across his district. For 16 years he conducted the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, leading international tours to Vienna, Australia, and Canada while maintaining an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician at major conferences and state honor orchestras.

Beyond the podium, Meyer founded the "Giving Bach" program in 2009, an initiative that has earned national recognition for using interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved students throughout Southern California. As a composer, he has nearly 200 works in print and previously served as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company, contributing to widely-used method books including the String Explorer Series.

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Why we love this

Meyer uses narrative and humor to teach genuine musical concepts without sacrificing artistic integrity. The "tone painting" technique anchors the whimsy, and the inclusion of recognizable classical melodies gives students something tangible to listen for while building awareness of how composers use familiar material for effect.

What to expect

Playful ingenuity mixed with genuine warmth. The piece bounces between pompous invention and mechanical humor, then pivots into unexpected pathos when the machine dies. Students experience the full emotional arc of a classical symphony compressed into a narrative that makes sense on the page and stage.

Who it's for

Grade 2.5 string orchestras with solid rhythmic foundation and basic technical facility. Directors looking for a concert piece that entertains both audience and players while teaching sophisticated concepts like thematic recall, dynamic contrast, and musical storytelling.

How to get the most out of it

Define the machine's "personality" early in rehearsal. The pizzicato sections need rhythmic precision, but the grinding and mechanical sounds should feel almost comedic, not stiff. Let the orchestra feel the energy shift between the ceremonious opening and when the crank actually turns.
Balance your dynamics carefully when all three melodies collide during the malfunction. Students should hear themselves as fragments within the chaos, not fight against it. This teaches restraint and listening in a high-energy moment.
The Funeral March ending works best when there's genuine silence before it begins. Give the orchestra a moment to absorb the "explosion" and reset emotionally for the shift in mood.

How to use it

Slot this into a "Strings Around the World" or "Composers and Their Inspiration" concert theme. It pairs well with other character pieces or program openers that reward careful listening. The narrative structure makes it ideal for a pops-style concert where you want sophistication without formality.

Skills your students will build

Pizzicato articulation and rhythmic precision in ensemble context
Tone painting and descriptive imagery through musical choices
Recognition and manipulation of familiar classical themes
Dynamic contrast and dramatic phrasing across a longer form
Listening and balance when multiple independent musical lines occur simultaneously