Triptych For Strings (and optional Trumpet) Cover Image

Triptych For Strings (and optional Trumpet): String Orchestra, Score and Parts

$22.00 USD
$22.00 USD
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Triptych For Strings (and optional Trumpet) Cover Image
Triptych For Strings (and optional Trumpet): String Orchestra, Score and Parts

Triptych For Strings (and optional Trumpet): String Orchestra, Score and Parts

By Vaclav Nelhybel

Grade: 2

Item: 36-18250023
$22.00
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Triptych For Strings (and optional Trumpet): String Orchestra, Conductor Score

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Description
In the Middle Ages, a triptych was an altar piece with a large central panel and two flanking panels which, as certain times of the church year, could be folded to cover the picture on the central panel. Today, the term "triptych" could be used for a triad of poems, three one-act operas, or a composition in three movements. This TRIPTYCH FOR STRINGS can be performed by full string orchestra or by a solo string quartet (Double Bass left out). The part of the optional Trumpet (in the first and third movements only) can be played by one or several players in unison, depending on the size of the string orchestra.

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Additional Details
Series: J. Christopher Music
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 654690494900
SKU: 36-18250023
Instrumentation: String Orchestra (and optional Trumpet)

More about this title

About the Composer: Vaclav Nelhybel

Vaclav Nelhybel (1919-1996) was a Czech-American composer whose prolific output spanned symphonic works, concertos, and educational pieces for instrumental ensembles. Known for his accessible compositional voice and gift for orchestration, Nelhybel wrote extensively for school and community orchestras, combining European harmonic sophistication with straightforward, singable melodic lines that engage young musicians.

Throughout his career, Nelhybel remained committed to writing music that was both rewarding to perform and musically substantive. His string orchestra works in particular have become standards in school programs, valued for their clear textures, moderate technical demands, and genuine artistic merit.

Why we love this

Nelhybel gives you a three-movement work with real architecture and contrasting character that doesn't ask for virtuosity. The triptych structure mirrors the medieval concept beautifully, and the optional trumpet part lets you scale the piece for your ensemble size without rewriting anything. Strings shine on every note, with genuine compositional craft underneath an approachable Grade 2 surface.

What to expect

Triptych moves through three distinct emotional landscapes without losing musical continuity. The work has a classical clarity and a European sensibility, with warm diatonic harmony and melodic writing that feels timeless rather than trendy. Listeners and performers alike sense that they are hearing something crafted with care.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the middle school or early high school level, as well as advanced youth orchestras looking for a shorter work with genuine substance. The piece also works as a full solo string quartet, making it flexible for chamber performance or sectional rehearsal contexts.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the optional trumpet part as a color accent rather than a melodic leader, especially in the outer movements. One player or several in unison both work; let your string sound remain primary.
  • Establish clear phrase breathing between sections. String orchestra at this level benefits from explicit conductor cueing at movement transitions to maintain ensemble cohesion.
  • Shape the lyrical passages with subtle dynamic contrast. Nelhybel's melodies unfold gradually, and small crescendos and diminuendos within phrases bring out the architecture without forcing.
  • Rehearse the string parts separately first if your ensemble includes newer players. The viola and cello lines carry harmonic weight; securing those parts before full ensemble rehearsal accelerates learning.

How to use it

Use this as a standalone featured work on a concert where you want to showcase string sound without adding winds or percussion. It pairs well with a single longer romantic-era piece or a contrasting contemporary work, filling a 10-15 minute block with musical substance. The three-movement form makes it substantial enough to anchor a program segment.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining tone quality across multiple slow passages and dynamic levels
  • Executing clean articulation and rhythmic precision in moderately paced sections
  • Reading and performing across the full range of each orchestral string part
  • Balancing ensemble blend when multiple string sections voice the same harmonic layer
  • Responding to phrase structure and conducting cues that shape longer musical statements

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