The Haunted Carousel: Score
By Soon Hee Newbold
Grade: 2.5
Item: 98-DST6199S
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Description
Truly imaginative! The melancholy yet alluring melody conjures images of an old carousel that is cursed or haunted by spirits. From the eerie harmonies of the opening to the more spirited melodies that follow, this work takes listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions as they experience the many moods of the haunted carousel. Pedagogically, the work introduces high 3 fingerings and accidentals. Sure to be a concert favorite!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Haunted Carousel: 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:
FJH Developing Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6199S
More about this title
About the Composer: Soon Hee Newbold
Soon Hee Newbold draws on a lifetime of musical training and global experience to create works that speak across all ensemble levels. Beginning piano study at age five and violin at seven, she performed as a concert artist with professional ensembles internationally before establishing herself as a composer whose pieces are heard from elementary school stages to Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center.
Newbold's compositions reflect her deep engagement with diverse cultural and musical traditions, shaped by conducting and clinicking throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Beyond orchestral and band writing, she has contributed to film and recording projects in Hollywood, bringing a multimedia sensibility to her work. She remains in high demand as both a guest clinician and keynote speaker.
Why we love this
Newbold crafts a genuinely theatrical arc here without resorting to cheap tricks. The opening establishes real harmonic unease, and the piece earns its emotional shifts rather than simply jumping between moods. For conductors seeking Grade 2.5 repertoire with actual character and substance, this scratches an itch that typical novelty pieces don't.
What to expect
A slow waltz through an abandoned amusement park, where the music sways between moments of genuine dread and a faded, almost nostalgic sweetness. The piece inhabits the space between minor-key melancholy and something playful, never quite letting listeners settle into one emotional mode before shifting the ground beneath them.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate-beginner level who are ready to move beyond basic rhythmic and technical studies into character-driven repertoire. This works beautifully for ensembles that have solid bow control and can handle multiple positions or accidentals without getting bogged down in mechanics.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening melody with careful dynamic control; the eeriness comes from restraint, not exaggeration, so resist the urge to play spookiness on the surface.
- Establish clear intonation on the accidentals introduced throughout, since they define the harmonic color of the piece rather than functioning as mere technical challenges.
- Balance the transition into the spirited section by lifting the ensemble's energy without losing the underlying timbral connection to the haunted opening.
- Use vibrato selectively in the principal voices to enhance the melancholy passages while pulling back slightly during the more energetic moments.
How to use it
This is an ideal Halloween concert centerpiece or a standout selection for a fall concert that wants programmatic variety without heavy drama. Pair it with a contrasting major-key work to highlight the piece's tonal palette, or bookend a concert with it to create a memorable opening or closing impression.
Skills your students will build
- High 3 fingerings on the violin and viola
- Reading and intonating accidentals in context
- Dynamic shaping and phrase direction in melodic lines
- Sustaining ensemble balance across contrasting character sections
- Vibrato control and selective use for expressive effect