Two Celtic Dances: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$46.00 USD

Two Celtic Dances: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Two Celtic Dances: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-45864
Price: 46.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring: Mari's Wedding / Finnegan's Wake

Arr. Bob Phillips

Grade: 1

Item: 00-45864

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In Two Celtic Dances, each section plays the delightful melodies found in this fiddle-inspired piece. Though very easy, this setting presents the fiddle tunes "Mari's Wedding" and "Finnegan's Wake" in a variety of textures perfect for young string orchestras. This Bob Phillips arrangement will be sure to energize your string players! (1:50)

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

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Series: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 80

UPC: 038081525563

SKU: 00-45864

More about this title

About the Arranger: Bob Phillips

Bob Phillips has spent decades proving that string education thrives when students encounter music beyond the classical canon. Since 1953, he has authored over 25 pedagogical series and published more than 200 works for orchestra and band, establishing himself as a leading voice in eclectic string pedagogy. His Sound Innovations series spans all six levels and reaches thousands of young musicians annually, while his specialized collections, Fiddlers Philharmonic, Jazz Philharmonic, Rock Philharmonic, Mariachi Philharmonic, Latin Philharmonic, and Fiddle and Song, have fundamentally shaped how string programs approach stylistic diversity.

Phillips built the string program in Saline, Michigan into a national model, growing it to over 700 students and founding the internationally recognized Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic. His ensembles have performed at the White House, the Midwest Clinic, and honor orchestras across the country. An award-winning ASCAP composer and former resident conductor for the Wintergrass Festival, Phillips continues to influence string pedagogy through his conducting work at all-state orchestras, youth symphonies, and summer festivals including Interlochen and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

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Why we love this

These two fiddle tunes sit at the intersection of accessibility and genuine musicianship. Bob Phillips knows how to write for young strings without sacrificing the character that makes traditional melodies sing, and the variety of textures ensures every section has moments to shine while keeping the arrangement manageable for Grade 1 players.

What to expect

Spirited and unpretentious, these dances carry the warmth of Irish fiddle tradition without requiring advanced technical skills. The result feels refreshingly alive, like students are playing music that belongs to living cultures rather than just mastering a skill.

Who it's for

Beginning string orchestras that are ready to move beyond elementary folk settings but still need straightforward notation and manageable ranges. This works especially well for programs building confidence and ensemble cohesion in Grade 1 students.

How to get the most out of it

Let the fiddle character breathe in the melody lines; these tunes benefit from slight emphasis on offbeats rather than metronomic evenness.
Balance the texture shifts carefully so that when accompaniment patterns change between the two dances, it feels like a refreshing turn rather than a stumble.
Use the stylistic contrast between the two tunes to your advantage in rehearsal; work them as distinct pieces before combining them into a single energetic performance.

How to use it

Pair this as an energetic closer on a concert featuring folk-inspired repertoire, or use it mid-season to celebrate stylistic breadth and keep rehearsals lively. The 1:50 duration makes it ideal for festival programs where you need an engaging piece that doesn't demand rehearsal time disproportionate to its impact.

Skills your students will build

Playing with dance-oriented rhythmic drive and appropriate phrasing in a non-classical idiom
Balancing melody and accompaniment across different instrumental families
Responding to texture changes and maintaining ensemble cohesion through varied string settings
Sustaining intonation and tone quality at moderate tempos across extended passages