Symphony No. 4, 1st Movement: Score
(First Movement)
By William Boyce / arr. Elliot Del Borgo
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PR-0000152
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Description
William Boyce was an English composer who lived in the same time as Handel. This arrangement of music from his elegant and graceful Fourth Symphony is an excellent addition to concert and contest literature by renowned composer Elliot Del Borgo. A great vehicle for working on the Baroque style, this piece will help students immensely in learning to play contrapuntal music. An especially nice segment featuring 2nd violins and violas makes this an outstanding choice for developing orchestras. (Grade 2) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Symphony No. 4, 1st Movement: Score 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:
136
SKU:
00-PR-0000152
More about this title
About the Composer: William Boyce
William Boyce (1711-1779) was a dominant figure in English concert life during the mid-18th century, composing symphonies, secular vocal music, and church works that shaped the sound of Georgian England. Though overshadowed historically by Continental masters, Boyce's symphonies demonstrate sophisticated harmonic language and structural clarity that place him squarely within the elegant tradition of his era.
Why we love this
Del Borgo's arrangement captures the essence of Boyce's symphonic writing while crafting a piece that sits comfortably in the Grade 2 repertoire without sacrificing musical substance. The contrapuntal passages and the featured viola-and-second-violin section give developing orchestras real musical work to do, not just note-reading.
What to expect
Graceful and proportioned, with a clarity that belongs entirely to the mid-18th century. The writing favors elegant melodic lines and transparent textures over dramatic gestures, inviting players into the world of Baroque orchestration where every line carries musical weight.
Who it's for
Developing string orchestras ready to engage with Baroque style and counterpoint but still building technical facility. This arrangement works especially well for orchestras with solid second violins and violas who deserve showcase moments.
How to get the most out of it
- Invest rehearsal time in the contrapuntal sections where lines weave together. Young players often hear only their own part; conduct with clear independence between voices so they understand how their line relates to others.
- Shape the elegant phrasing with natural breath points. Baroque style thrives on architectural clarity, not romantic sweep; help students feel the forward motion within balanced phrases.
- Feature the second violin and viola passage with careful balance. This is not background accompaniment; it deserves prominence so the secondary voices shine as equals to the first violins.
How to use it
Program this on a concert celebrating orchestral literature from the English baroque and classical tradition. It pairs naturally with other Boyce works or with period-appropriate repertoire by Vivaldi or Telemann, and serves equally well as a contest selection at the Grade 2 level.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing contrapuntal passages with independence between string sections
- Understanding Baroque articulation and phrase structure
- Balancing secondary voices (violas and second violins) within a four-part texture
- Executing clean ensemble attacks and releases in homophonic sections