Great Plains Saga

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Great Plains Saga is an easy concert piece for a young string ensemble. The music should be performed in a manner which evokes the rustic openness of the American continent at the time when Native American tribes inhabited it. Accordingly, the music is modal and thus provides an ancient character to the melodies. The first theme appearing at m. 9 consists of six notes. It repeats at m. 17 in the cello part with a countermelody in the violins. xa0After a brief transition m. 25, the second section begins with a quiet two-measure phrase thatxa0is answered forte by the low strings. xa0This call-and-response episode continues until m. 43 where the transition to the opening theme begins. At m. 49 the director may wish to slow the tempo just a bit to give the music a heavier feel. The coda at m. 57 may be played freely and dramatically. This piece for the youngest students depicts wide open spaces, rugged terrain, and covered wagons heading West through the American plains. Students will love to play this contest selection, written in a minor mode. It will make them sound more mature and the piece can be performed with as little as 10 weeks of study.

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