Serengeti Dreams (with Opt. Percussion Ensemble): Viola
By Robert W. Smith
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0002269_VA1
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Description
Serengeti National Park, a wildlife refuge in northern Tanzania, East Africa, serves as the inspiration for this work. Intended as an introduction to multicultural music for beginning instrumentalists, the work features musical representations of the many exotic animal species found in the park. The beginning is majestic, depicting the hills and grassland ranges. A variety of interesting sounds is created with the strings alone or by including the optional, innovative percussion parts.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Serengeti Dreams (with Opt. Percussion Ensemble): Viola 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:
Belwin Intermediate String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
194
SKU:
00-PC-0002269_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among America's most prolific composers for wind and string ensembles, with over 400 published works performed internationally. His education in music education at Troy State University and advanced study at the University of Miami shaped his gift for writing music that reaches both developing and advanced musicians. His symphonic works, including The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, have earned respect across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Beyond the concert hall, Smith's music has appeared in Olympic broadcasts, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and ceremonies honoring world leaders. He maintains an active schedule as both conductor and clinician, bringing his compositional philosophy directly to ensembles across the United States, Canada, and abroad.
Why we love this
Smith writes for string orchestras with a storyteller's ear, and this piece proves he understands exactly what Grade 2.5 ensembles can accomplish musically. The optional percussion parts let you build the work progressively, strings alone make a compelling statement, then the added colors transform the texture without overwhelming young players. Serengeti Dreams works equally well as a festival selection or a concert opener that genuinely engages an audience.
What to expect
Majestic and sweeping at the start, with the grandeur of African highlands rolling across your string section. The work shifts between moments of serene beauty and rhythmic energy as animal characters emerge, creating a journey that feels like witnessing the Serengeti itself through sound.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level looking for repertoire that teaches musicianship while keeping players engaged through vivid imagery. This works for concert ensembles, festival entries, or educational settings where you want to build cultural awareness alongside technical skills.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening majestic section by bringing out the viola and cello lines; they anchor the harmonic foundation that the violins soar above.
- If you add the optional percussion ensemble, rehearse those parts separately first so percussionists hear how their 'exotic sounds' layer into the string texture rather than compete with it.
- Let the animal character depictions breathe. Resist rushing between sections; each creature deserves its own musical space and personality.
- Record a rehearsal run-through and listen back for intonation in the divisi passages; young strings often lock better when they hear themselves as individual lines rather than just parts of a chord.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to establish an adventurous, imaginative tone for your audience. It pairs well on the same program with other multicultural works, or stand it alone as a bridge piece that keeps younger audiences invested while developing musicians explore new sonic territory.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining ensemble blend across divisi passages
- Responding to animal characterizations through dynamic shaping and articulation choices
- Coordinating with optional percussion without losing string ensemble cohesion
- Sustaining long phrases with proper bow control
- Reading and executing rhythmic patterns that suggest movement and action