What Dreams May Come: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

What Dreams May Come: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: What Dreams May Come: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6231
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Erik Morales

Grade: 3

Item: 98-ST6231

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Inspired by the famous Shakespeare soliloquy from the third act of Hamlet, this compelling two-movement work portrays a vast array of emotions. The first movement, Dream of Life, uses long phrases, slow harmonic movement, and lingering suspensions to portray a peaceful sleep. The second movement, Dream of Death, is aggressive and highly rhythmic. Beginning softly, the movement develops rhythmically and harmonically until the powerful final chord. Intense!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, What Dreams May Come: 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: FJH String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398228041

SKU: 98-ST6231

More about this title

About the Composer: Erik Morales

Erik Morales was born in New York City in 1966 and began composing during high school, when a former band director asked him to arrange music for the marching band. This early opportunity launched a prolific career spanning multiple genres; his catalog now includes over 150 published works for wind, orchestral, jazz, and chamber ensembles that have been performed internationally. He studied composition at Florida International University and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1989.

Morales has established himself as a significant voice in educational music publishing, deliberately crafting works that balance artistic integrity with pedagogical value. His contributions to the trumpet repertoire have earned particular recognition, including first-place finishes at the 2006 and 2008 National Trumpet Competitions and a premiere of his Concerto for Trumpet in C and Piano at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame. Schools and organizations across the nation regularly commission new works from him.

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Why we love this

Morales captures the psychological journey of Hamlet's soliloquy with musical architecture that respects the Grade 3 player while delivering genuine dramatic impact. The two-movement design gives your string players a complete emotional arc in a single concert piece, and the contrasting characters of Dream of Life and Dream of Death make this a memorable repertoire choice for festival or concert programming.

What to expect

The first movement wraps you in quiet contemplation, with harmonic suspensions that linger like half-remembered thoughts. The second movement jolts awake, driving forward with relentless rhythm and harmonic motion until it crashes toward an inevitable, powerful conclusion.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the intermediate level looking for a two-movement work with substantial artistic content and clear dramatic shape. This piece serves conductors seeking contest or festival material that stretches younger players musically without overwhelming them technically.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the long phrases in the first movement with patient bow control; resist the urge to subdivide the slow harmonic rhythm. Younger players often want to "fix" seemingly sparse moments, so invest rehearsal time in finding musical direction within the stillness.
Begin the second movement with genuine softness so the rhythmic and harmonic intensification has room to build. The power of the final chord depends on contrast; commit to the dynamic journey rather than starting strong.
Balance the suspensions in Dream of Life across your section so they land as unified chord colors rather than individual mistakes. Sectional work on tuning these moments will pay dividends.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a concert exploring contrasting moods or as a solo contest entry that demonstrates your orchestra's range. The Hamlet connection also works beautifully in interdisciplinary concerts pairing with English or drama departments, or as a dramatic closing piece that leaves audiences sitting in the final chord's resonance.

Skills your students will build

Sustained phrasing over slow harmonic changes without losing forward momentum
Dynamic control through a two-movement arc with contrasting characters
Rhythmic precision and ensemble cohesion during accelerating harmonic and rhythmic intensity
Tuning suspended chords and tertian harmonies across string voicings