The Creepy Crawl: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By David Shaffer and Jason Barrera
Grade: 2
Item: 98-DST6043
$45.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| The Creepy Crawl: Score | $5.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Violin 2 | $7.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Optional Violin 3 (Viola) | $7.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Viola | $7.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Violoncello | $7.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Double Bass | $7.00 | |
| The Creepy Crawl: Rehearsal Piano | $7.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
As the composers write: "Lighthearted with a hint of macabre, this composition evokes images of ghosts, goblins, and other spirits engaging in a haunting graveyard gavotte." A very clever piece which is perfect for changing the pace of your concert. Highly recommended!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Developing Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6043
More about this title
About the Composer: David Shaffer
David Shaffer has built a reputation as a composer who understands what developing musicians need: repertoire that challenges them musically while keeping them engaged. His catalog spans educational settings across wind, string, and mixed ensembles, consistently balancing technical demands with genuine musical interest.
Shaffer's work in the FJH Developing Strings series demonstrates his grasp of where students are in their journey. He writes parts that sit comfortably under the fingers while still requiring attention to ensemble balance, intonation, and stylistic clarity.
Why we love this
This piece does what novelty writing should do: it entertains without sacrificing musicianship. The macabre-meets-playful tone keeps players engaged through a full run, and the orchestration sits naturally under young players' hands, making it genuinely fun to rehearse rather than a slog to get through.
What to expect
Imagine a procession of friendly ghosts parading through a graveyard at twilight, moving with deliberate steps and mischievous charm. The melodic lines dance with a lightness that belies the minor-tinged harmonic color, creating a piece that is simultaneously charming and delightfully unsettling.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the Grade 2 level looking for a concert piece that engages both players and audiences. Directors seeking repertoire that breaks up a program with personality and humor without sacrificing technical growth.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the pizzicato rhythms in the lower strings; they drive the piece's momentum and need clarity without overpowering the melodic material above.
- Emphasize the gavotte's stately character in the phrasing; resist the urge to rush even though the piece has a light, bouncy quality.
- Shape dynamics carefully through the haunting passages so that softer moments feel genuinely eerie rather than tentative.
How to use it
Position this as a concert-pace-breaker between heavier, more lyrical works. It works particularly well for Halloween-themed concerts or as a standalone novelty that signals to the audience that the orchestra can play with style and personality beyond standard concert fare.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in staccato and pizzicato passages
- Balancing independent melodic and rhythmic material across string sections
- Shaping phrasing within a dance-based formal structure
- Reading and executing dynamic contrasts that support character and mood