Unbridled Spirit: 1st Violin
By Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Grade: 4.5-5
Item: 00-PC-0019250_VN1
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Description
Soaring melodies and syncopated rhythms evoke scenes of horses galloping with unbridled spirit through the wild. Katie O'Hara LaBrie includes mixed meters and upper position work to keep your advanced players engaged as they perform this celebratory work. Perfect as an opener or closer! (5:00)
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Additional Details
Series:
MakeMusic Symphony Strings
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019250_VN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Katie O'Hara LaBrie combines her work as a cellist, conductor, and clinician with deep roots in music education. After spending 15 years teaching orchestra in Fairfax County, Virginia, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College and her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. Her compositions consistently reflect her classroom experience, prioritizing both musical substance and genuine joy for the performers.
LaBrie's work has earned recognition including multiple J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice selections and performances at prestigious venues such as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Directors Clinic and the American String Teachers Association Conference. In 2022, Yamaha honored her as one of its "40 Under 40" for her action, courage, creativity, and commitment to growth in music education. She founded the Fairfax Chamber Players and co-created the Big IDEA practice method, demonstrating her commitment to helping students develop intentional, purposeful practice habits. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia with her family.
Why we love this
Advanced string orchestras need repertoire that challenges without overwhelming, and this piece delivers exactly that balance. LaBrie's use of mixed meters and upper position work keeps accomplished players thinking while the driving rhythmic energy and soaring melodic lines maintain the kind of forward momentum that keeps rehearsals rewarding and audiences engaged. Whether you program it as a concert opener or finale, the celebratory character and distinctive voice make it memorable programming.
What to expect
The piece evokes the visceral energy of unbridled motion: galloping horses, wild freedom, unrestrained forward momentum. Syncopated rhythms drive beneath soaring lines, and the synergy between melody and propulsive accompaniment creates exhilaration rather than chaos. This is celebratory music that combines sophistication with the kind of joy that players feel in their bodies as they perform.
Who it's for
Advanced string orchestras at the Grade 4.5-5 level will find this work ideally suited to their technical capabilities and interpretive maturity. Players comfortable with upper position work and metric variety can tackle the compositional demands while directors seeking contest and festival repertoire with genuine musical substance will appreciate LaBrie's approach to challenge and accessibility.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the syncopated rhythmic figures in sectionals before bringing the full orchestra together; LaBrie layers complex rhythms that benefit from isolated attention before integration.
- Balance the soaring top-line melody against the rhythmic foundation by bringing full string tone to inner voices and accompaniment figures rather than letting them recede.
- Embrace the upper position work as an extension of each player's technical growth; mark specific positions in parts early so players internalize the shift in feel and sight-read efficiently in rehearsal.
- Use the mixed meter changes as rehearsal landmarks for structural clarity; identifying where the meter shifts helps players understand form and stay grounded during metric transitions.
How to use it
Program this as a season opener to establish your orchestra's technical capabilities and set an energetic tone early, or close a concert with its celebratory spirit and memorable character. It also works well in a contest or festival setting where judges appreciate both compositional clarity and the kind of challenge that produces polished, engaged performances.
Skills your students will build
- Reading mixed meters (3/4 and 4/4 in alternating sections)
- Playing in upper positions on multiple string instruments
- Executing syncopated rhythmic figures across the ensemble
- Balancing melody and accompaniment with independent voice parts
- Sustaining full string tone through rhythmically complex passages