Aunt Rhodie's Diet

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano, Narrator, Actor, Percussion, Bells, Chime, Wood Block, Crash Cymbals, Xylophone, Temple Block, Ratchet — Aunt Rhodie’s Diet is a sequel to Aunt Rhodie’s Appetite. Both arrangements are novel settings in which a beginning band or orchestra can perform the standard folk songs found in the firstfew pages of most band or orchestra methods. Because they are so easy, these arrangements by themselves would not make much of a concert, even for a beginning group. But when used as incidental music to the story, the songs become sufficiently interesting to the audience, without taxing the capabilities of students who have been playing for about ten to twelve weeks.For bands, snare drum and bass drum are the only percussion needed. Other percussion instruments are completely optional. String ensembles may exclude all percussion. The play does call for a sound effect of a watch being wound (i.e. ratchet) and of the sound of Westminster Chimes (i.e. bells or piano).Aunt Rhodie’s Appetite tells the story of Aunt Rhodie’s plan to cook the Old Gray Goose for her holiday dinner. Aunt Rhodie’s Diet is a story about eating too many hot cross buns.Since the play uses only seven actors, it can be performed on stage in front of the band or orchestra. More elaborate settings are possible, of course. Teaching the play can be handled by the orchestra director or by another teacher. Parent helpers are also an option. The actors can be band members or not. Adults can also be used as actors. Costumes can be as simple or elaborate as wanted.For directors who may not want to present the stage play, Aunt Rhodie’s Diet includes a version in which the story is told by a narrator alone.Aunt Rhodie’s Appetite has been found to be a wonderfully effective December concert pieceby many elementary-school band directors in and around the composer’s school district. Aunt Rhodie’s Diet is just as simple as the original and equally entertaining.Thank you for choosing this composition. I hope you and your students enjoy performing it.—Joseph CompelloGlen Arm, Maryland, 2009 Carl Fischer Music presents the sequel to the already popular Aunt Rhodie's Appetite. Now Aunt Rhodie has eaten too many hot cross buns and needs to go on a diet! This is a great opportunity to showcase the youngest of string players in a fun-filled concert/music play.

Preview Pages