What's Going On (arr. Robert Longfield): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Longfield's orchestration captures the spiritual depth and rhythmic sophistication of the original without sacrificing accessibility for developing string players. Programming this alongside classical works or contemporary concert music shows students that artistic merit transcends genre boundaries, while the Grade 3-4 level ensures your section can execute Gaye's message with genuine musicality rather than simplification.

Cool and grounded, with an undercurrent of emotional urgency. The orchestration wraps Gaye's original melancholy and hope in warm string colors, creating a sound that feels both sophisticated and deeply human. Your students will recognize the song while discovering how arrangement shapes meaning.

String orchestras at the intermediate level who want to engage with contemporary repertoire that carries genuine artistic weight. This arrangement works for directors seeking to expand their students' musical vocabulary beyond traditional classical canon while maintaining technical rigor and musical integrity.

• Anchor the R&B pulse through the section; the bass line drives everything, so ensure your cellos and basses lock in before rehearsing with upper strings.
• Balance the orchestral texture so that sustained chords never overshadow the lyrical melody. Your first violins need space to sing without drowning out the message.
• Let the arrangement breathe at phrase endings rather than rushing through them. The original's cool restraint comes from knowing when not to play.
• Invest rehearsal time in the rhythmic figures that feel unfamiliar to classical string players. The R&B syncopation will feel natural only after repetition makes it instinctive.

Schedule this for a mixed concert where it sits comfortably between classical works and pop arrangements, demonstrating that artistic lineage runs in multiple directions. The piece works equally well as an opener that establishes modern relevance or a closer that leaves audiences contemplating the composer's original call for compassion.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms typical of R&B and pop idioms
• Sustaining tone quality and blend in long, exposed string chords
• Balancing accompaniment texture so that melody remains prominent
• Responding to a rubato or flexible approach to phrasing rather than metronomic time
• Understanding how orchestration choices support emotional communication in music