Steampunk Cover Image

Steampunk: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$8.00 USD
Sale price  $8.00 USD Regular price 
Skip to product information
Steampunk Cover Image

Steampunk: String Orchestra Conductor Score

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 3.5

Item: 00-41259S

$8.00
Shipped

One moment…

Description
The word "steampunk" refers to a genre of science fiction that features steam-powered machinery. Works of fiction in this style are most often set in the 19th century British Victorian era or the American Wild West. Machines and technology found in the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells would be good examples of steampunk-style inventions. The piece itself follows no specific narrative, but rather is meant to capture the spirit and mood of this hearty, highly imaginative, industrial-based movement. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Steampunk: String Orchestra Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 24
ISBN10: 1-4706-6471-2
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6471-8
UPC: 038081480688
SKU: 00-41259S

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching strings across elementary, middle, and high school levels in California public schools. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, he transformed a program of 29 students into a thriving orchestra of 200, while simultaneously directing the city's elementary string curriculum. He also led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, taking ensembles on performance tours to New York, Washington D.C., Vienna, Australia, and Canada.

Beyond the classroom, Meyer has built a national reputation as both a clinician and composer. He designed the "Giving Bach" program, an innovative concert-based initiative bringing music education to special needs and underserved students throughout Southern California. His compositional output exceeds 190 works and arrangements, and he spent 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company. He has also co-authored multiple string method resources, including the String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings.

Why we love this

Meyer captures the visual energy and mechanical swagger of steampunk without falling into novelty traps. The orchestration sits comfortably at grade 3.5, giving solid intermediate players genuine musical meat to chew on while maintaining the theatrical flair that makes this genre fun to perform. It programs beautifully as a palate-cleanser in a concert, and audiences consistently respond to the imaginative storytelling embedded in the instrumental writing.

What to expect

Imagine gears grinding, steam hissing, and wheels turning in some vast, intricate machine from another century. The music pulses with brass-band energy despite being written entirely for strings, evoking the clank and wonder of Jules Verne's imaginative contraptions. It's theatrical and adventurous, yet grounded enough that players stay focused on genuine musical execution.

Who it's for

Intermediate string orchestras (grades 6-9 especially) looking for novelty repertoire that avoids being fluff. It works equally well for high school programs seeking a fun, concert-appropriate piece that doesn't sacrifice musicianship or orchestration sophistication.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the mechanical rhythmic figures with clear articulation so they feel purposeful rather than repetitive; let the steam-powered quality emerge from precision, not from playing heavy
  • Balance the melodic line across sections rather than defaulting to traditional first violin dominance; Meyer often passes thematic material, and clarity here deepens the industrial atmosphere
  • Establish a steady tempo early in rehearsal and lock it in before adding expressive detail; the piece's character depends on the underpinning groove remaining intact

How to use it

Program this as a standalone concert feature or a sparkling interlude between heavier works. It pairs especially well in thematic concerts exploring historical periods, science fiction, or innovative orchestrations. The novelty appeal also makes it a strong choice for family concerts or community outreach events where you want to showcase student musicianship without sacrificing entertainment value.

Skills your students will build

  • Articulation control (staccato, legato, and marcato in sequence)
  • Reading rhythmic precision in mechanical, repeating figures
  • Dynamic contrast and shaping within a driving tempo
  • Orchestral balance when melodic material shifts across sections
  • Sustaining ensemble cohesion in character-driven (non-traditional) repertoire

You May Also Like