Suite Concertante: Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD

Suite Concertante: Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Suite Concertante: Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-A502802
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

for String Orchestra and Harp

By Alfred Reed

Item: 36-A502802

$65.00

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SUITE CONCERTANTE was originally written for an orchestra of eight celli and double bass, and the work was premiered on April 19th, 1970 in this form. Some years later, Alfred Reed re-scored the second movement of this five-movement work for string orchestra and harp, and this version was premiered in 1976 with Dr. Lucas Drew conducting the Bicentennial Chamber Orchestra of Miami. Then, in 1981, Lucas Drew, now president of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), revisited the work, suggesting to Alfred Reed that he re-score the remaining four movements also for string orchestra, though the harp is omitted for those movements. It is this work for string orchestra, with harp included in the 2nd movement, that is available here from the publisher. The music consists of five individual movements of widely varying character, with no special thematic interconnections between them other than the fact that the fourth movement, "Chorale," was designed to lead directly into the fifth, and, in its closing measures, foreshadows the main theme of the movement to come. Movements: I. Prelude and Fugue, II. Siciliana Notturno, III. Scherzando Espagnole, IV. Chorale, V. Toccata La Rocca. String count of 8-8-5-5-5 included in the set.

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Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

UPC: 746241290465

SKU: 36-A502802

Instrumentation: Harp: Str(8-8-5-5-5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Alfred Reed

Alfred Reed was a prolific composer, conductor, and educator whose catalog spans over 200 works for concert band, orchestra, and chamber ensembles. His compositions balance structural rigor with accessibility, making them staples in school and professional settings alike. Reed's gift for orchestration and his deep understanding of instrumental capabilities informed every score he wrote, and he remained committed to expanding the repertoire for student and community musicians throughout his career.

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Why we love this

This suite gives your string orchestra a five-movement journey that feels substantial without demanding virtuosity beyond reach. Reed's rescoring choices (originally for eight cellos and bass, then adapted for strings with harp in the second movement) show how thoughtfully a masterwork can evolve; what began as a specialized ensemble piece became accessible to orchestras of standard configuration. The movements stand apart in character, so programming the whole work or selecting individual movements fits multiple concert contexts.

What to expect

The work unfolds like a formal recital, each movement a distinct mood: contrapuntal rigor, nocturnal introspection, rhythmic sparkle, spiritual stillness, and virtuosic flourish. The orchestration breathes throughout, balancing full string voice with strategic moments of transparency. There's no bombast here, only craftsmanship and musical substance.

Who it's for

String orchestras with solid intonation and rhythmic confidence will find this work rewarding at the high school and college level. The scoring assumes competent musicians who can handle multi-movement complexity and can sustain musical lines through varied textures. If your ensemble includes a harpist, the second movement becomes an additional draw.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the fugal writing in the first movement with clear voice independence; the string lines need light articulation and precise entrances to sing through the counterpoint.
Bring out the harp's color in the Siciliana Notturno without letting it dominate; it's an atmospheric anchor, not a soloist.
Let the Spanish rhythmic character breathe in the Scherzando Espagnole; precision with syncopation matters more than rushing the tempo.
The Chorale leads into the Toccata, so rehearse the transition carefully and maintain structural momentum across the movement break.

How to use it

Open a concert with the Prelude and Fugue, or program the entire suite as the centerpiece of a chamber orchestra concert. The variety of the five movements makes it work well alongside contemporary pieces or in a concert themed around 20th-century string writing. The Toccata finale leaves audiences with energy without feeling tacked on.