There Stands a Little Man Cover Image

There Stands a Little Man: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$40.00 USD
Sale price  $40.00 USD Regular price 
Skip to product information
There Stands a Little Man Cover Image

There Stands a Little Man: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

German Folk Song / arr. Sandra Dackow

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-24993

makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$40.00
Shipped

One moment…

Description
This piece correlates with Orchestra Expressions™ Book One. Most listeners, young and old, are familiar with "There Stands a Little Man in the Woods Alone," a charming folk song quoted by Engelbert Humperdinck in his opera Hansel and Gretel. The tune is rhythmic, diatonic and unpretentious. This arrangement offers a mix of pizzicato and off the string bowing styles. Much attention is paid to the lower strings. All parts remain in first position and no extended fingerings are required. Some second position fingerings are offered in the bass part to minimize string crossing but these are optional. It is recommended that the piece be performed at a brisk cut time tempo and that all quarter notes be played off the string and at the frog. A third violin part has been included, which is actually treble clef viola. A piano part has also been included, but this should be used only in rehearsal as a support if needed, and not in performance.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, There Stands a Little Man: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Orchestra Expressions
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 76
UPC: 038081278605
SKU: 00-24993

More about this title

About the Arranger: Sandra Dackow

Sandra Dackow is an arranger and composer who has shaped string orchestra pedagogy through accessible, thoughtfully scored arrangements that honor both the source material and young players' developing abilities. Her work in the Orchestra Expressions series has become a standard in string programs, consistently offering pieces that balance musical integrity with technical appropriateness for early-intermediate ensembles.

Why we love this

This arrangement respects the folk melody's simplicity while giving it genuine orchestral texture through stratified pizzicato and bowing choices. Dackow's deliberate focus on lower strings and strategic use of optional fingerings shows a conductor who understands the real constraints of Grade 1.5 ensembles without compromising musicality.

What to expect

Bright and straightforward, with a folk-tune approachability that never feels condescending. The mix of pizzicato and off-the-string bowing keeps the texture moving and playful, while the sustained attention to lower strings gives the arrangement unexpected depth for such an early-level piece.

Who it's for

String orchestra directors working with Grade 1.5 ensembles who want a recognizable, publishable melody that requires no extended technique or awkward string crossings. Students familiar with Hansel and Gretel will connect immediately to the tune, making rehearsals and performance preparation engaging from the start.

How to get the most out of it

  • Rehearse the pizzicato sections with clear rhythmic precision at the frog; the energy comes from snap and definition, not volume.
  • Balance the melody between first violins and violas (the third violin part in treble clef), allowing the lower voices their moment as the piece builds.
  • Keep the tempo brisk in cut time to maintain the tune's folk character; a plodding pace will drain the rhythmic vitality.
  • Use the optional second position fingerings in bass only if your section is secure; first position throughout is perfectly valid and often cleaner at this level.

How to use it

Program this early in a concert to establish comfort and confidence, or pair it alongside other folk-based arrangements to create a thematic set. Its short length and modest technical demands make it an ideal encore or a strong opening statement that sets an accessible tone for your audience.

Skills your students will build

  • Pizzicato control and rhythmic clarity at the frog
  • Balancing melodic and supporting lines across multiple string sections
  • Shifting between on-the-string and off-the-string bowing styles within a single arrangement
  • Reading and executing optional fingering choices to minimize string crossing
  • Intonation in first position across all four string parts

You May Also Like