Then There Were Five: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$45.00 USD

Then There Were Five: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Then There Were Five: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 76-49878
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Loreta Fin

Grade: 2

Item: 76-49878

$45.00

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The irregular 5/4 time signature found here is not often used in educational ensemble music. Then There Were Five is an original piece by Loreta Fin, using a 3 + 2 feel and, at times, a 2 + 3 feel. The syncopated rhythm is repetitive and has a lilting quality. The middle section changes to 3/4 time, before returning to the main ideas. This piece is for Loreta's five grandchildren, who have often been the inspiration for her pieces. (2:25)

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Series: Wilfin String Orchestra: Young String Ensemble Series

Publisher: Wilfin Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-5126-2

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5126-8

UPC: 038081572178

SKU: 76-49878

More about this title

About the Composer: Loreta Fin

An accomplished violist and string educator based in Brisbane, Loreta Fin studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and spent decades as a performing musician, including 25 years as Principal Viola with the Queensland Pops Orchestra. Her career has balanced chamber and orchestral performance with deep involvement in music education, serving as Director of Strings at Somerville House School since 1993.

Fin has shaped Australian string education through her work as a clinician, adjudicator, and advocate, including roles as State and National President of the Australian Strings Association and State Advisor for Strings. Her compositional output reflects her teaching experience: over 100 published works for string orchestra that range from beginner ensembles to advanced groups. She has been recognized nationally for her contributions to string music, receiving the National Award for Services to Music and String Teaching in Australia.

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Why we love this

Five-four time is rarely written for young string players, yet Fin makes the irregular meter feel natural and even lyrical. The 3 + 2 and 2 + 3 rhythmic profiles create momentum without demanding virtuosity, giving students a genuine metric experience rather than a novelty. A conductor gets to teach subdivision and internal feel while the ensemble sounds musically sophisticated.

What to expect

Rhythmically propulsive yet buoyant, with a gentle swing that comes from the 3 + 2 subdivision. The piece has a folk or dance-like character, syncopated but never jarring, before settling into the quieter certainty of 3/4 time in the middle. It lands as contemporary and playful rather than academic.

Who it's for

Young string orchestras ready for metric challenges beyond the standard 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 patterns. This Grade 2 piece rewards ensembles with solid rhythmic reading skills and a conductor who relishes teaching meter through repertoire rather than exercises.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the pulse firmly in the 3 + 2 grouping during rehearsal. Have students count or tap in that pattern before attempting the full texture.
Let the syncopation breathe. The repetitive figures reward clarity and rhythmic precision over rushing; take time with articulation to define the lilting quality.
Mark the shift to 3/4 as a genuine change of breath and energy, not a return to 'normal' after a detour. The contrast strengthens both sections.
Use the 2:25 duration to your advantage in pacing. The piece moves quickly, so secure rhythmic coordination in sectionals before running it with full ensemble.

How to use it

Pair this on a concert with more conventional metric pieces to highlight what young string players can accomplish. The short duration and distinctive meter make it memorable as a standalone statement, whether in a school concert or a small-ensemble festival. It also serves well as a teaching tool: programming it signals to the audience that this ensemble tackles real compositional challenges.