Two Songs from Sommerset: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Opening with the gentle lyricism of 'Waly, Waly,' this piece invites listeners into the English countryside with unhurried melodic lines that float across your string section. The contrasting second tune then lifts the mood entirely, bouncing with folk dance energy and playfulness that feels immediate and joyful.

String orchestras in Grades 2-4 seeking a short, concert-ready piece that combines folk authenticity with compositional craft. Directors looking for a two-movement structure can program this as a complete work or use either tune separately for variety in a longer concert.

• Shape 'Waly, Waly' with long phrasing across its flowing lines; resist the urge to break at every bar line, and let the melody breathe as a continuous song rather than a series of figures.
• Bring lightness and transparency to 'Blow Away the Morning Dew' by keeping the tempo conversational and allowing rhythmic bounce to emerge from articulation rather than aggressive dynamic shifts.
• Balance your first violins carrying the melodic material against the supporting voices; these folk tunes shine when the accompaniment sits firmly beneath rather than competing for attention.

This compact piece (2:00) pairs well with other folk-influenced works or light concert selections. Its manageable length makes it ideal for a student festival or concert where you want to showcase your ensemble's musicality without heavy technical or stamina demands, and the two distinct sections give young players experience shaping contrasting moods.

• Sustaining long melodic phrases with consistent tone and intonation
• Balancing accompaniment textures against primary melodic voices
• Responding to contrasting character and tempo within a single work
• Executing clean articulation in lighter, bouncing rhythmic passages
• Reading and interpreting folk-based material with historical awareness