Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Carrie Lane Gruselle
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PK-0000160
$45.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Score | $9.00 | |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: 1st Violin | $5.99 | |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: 2nd Violin | $5.99 | |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Viola | $5.99 | |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Cello | $5.99 | |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: String Bass | $5.99 |
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Description
This really swings! Beginning with an incredibly lush, slow treatment of this beloved spiritual, Carrie Lane Gruselle then moves into a set of jazz variations that are as fun to play as they are to hear! With great parts for all instruments, your students will love this arrangement. Especially great for challenging those up-and-coming cello and bass students, this is a real crowd-pleaser. You've just got to hear it! (Grade 3)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts 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:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
31
SKU:
00-PK-0000160
More about this title
About the Arranger: Carrie Lane Gruselle
Carrie Lane Gruselle earned her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and her Masters of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where she focused on Suzuki pedagogy. She has taught elementary and middle level strings in the Appleton Area School District and serves as cello instructor at the Lawrence University Arts Academy in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Why we love this
Gruselle nails the balance between accessibility and genuine musicianship here. The opening chorale draws your students into something beautiful and spacious, then the jazz variations deliver the energy and fun that keeps an audience engaged while giving cellists and bassists real material to sink their teeth into at this level.
What to expect
The piece opens like a hymn, rich and contemplative, before shifting into a playful, swinging energy that feels both sophisticated and joyful. It's the kind of arrangement that reminds you why you teach: the moment your students realize they can make something both beautiful and fun.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors teaching grades 3-5 who want to program something with real substance and warmth. Your students need engaging material with genuine musical depth, and this arrangement delivers both without requiring advanced technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening slow treatment with breath, letting the spiritual's emotional weight land without rushing. The contrast to what follows depends on this foundation.
- In the jazz variations, lock the rhythmic articulation of the section together first, then layer in the swing feel. Your strings will find the groove faster if the rhythmic skeleton is solid.
- Give the lower strings the spotlight they deserve; this arrangement was built to challenge them, so balance the mix to let cellists and bassists hear themselves in rehearsal.
- Record a run-through during dress rehearsal to catch balance issues between the slow and jazz sections. The dynamic shift is steep and worth checking in context.
How to use it
Perfect for a mixed concert where you need a spiritual that stands apart from standard fare, or as a contest piece that showcases your orchestra's range. Program it after something more serious to give your audience the experience of watching your students shift musical gears.
Skills your students will build
- Interpretation of swing rhythm and jazz articulation in a classical string context
- Dynamic contrast and phrase shaping across contrasting sections (slow chorale to jazz variation)
- Part independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion in a reworked melodic line
- Cello and bass ensemble technique with written challenges that demand musicality, not just accuracy