String Orchestra Compositions by Janelle Zook Cunalata

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 *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

Have your beginning orchestra sounding great at their first performance with this charming piece that uses only the first six notes of the D scale. With great parts for all sections, a strong melody, dynamic contrasts, and pizzicato, beginning musicians will be engaged while learning basic fundamentals and will be proud of their success.  An excellent choice! Preview and/or purchase here.

  *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

Based on the traditional spirituaRise Up, Shepherd, and Follow, this lively carol combines Appalachian folk style with the joy of the season. Students will learn call-and-response form and alternating melody and accompaniment. Syncopated rhythms, steady bass line, and old-time fiddle riffs will transport players and audiences to the snowy Smoky Mountains for a winter celebration. Includes violin 3 (viola in treble clef) parts.  Preview and/or purchase here 

 Come explore underground in water-filled, dark, caves otherwise known as "cenotes" by locals and tourists in Cancun, Mexico.a "Cenote Dos Ojos" or "the two-eyed cave" musically illustrates the beauty and mystery within the dark caves.a A minor and mysterious melody paired with enigmatic harmonies, articulation and rhythms are crafted together in a way that allows beginner string students to successfully enjoy exciting music.  Preview and/or purchase here.

  Intricate harmony paired with a beautiful and well-known melody, makes for a great musical choice for your next holiday concert. Preview and/or Purchase here.

 Hop aboard the ferry and delight in the impressive rock formations along the Wisconsin River gorge famously known as the Wisconsin Dells. Fun to play and listen to with contrasting dynamics, dance-inspired rhythms, and a climactic ending. . Preview and/or purchase here.

 Catchy and delightful, “Los Pollitos Dicen” is a song enjoyed by Spanish-speaking families around the world.  This arrangement for string orchestra lies easily on the fingerboard of young string musicians allowing for successful ensemble playing from the start .  Preview and/or purchase here.

 Exciting, anticipatory, exotic and mysterious – students and directors alike will appreciate how easily “Exotic Dance” comes together during rehearsals as young musicians groove the riffs and sail the melodies. Emphasizing accents and rhythms during the first and final sections of the piece, and reveling in the contrasting legato and pizzicato middle section will result in dramatic and thrilling rehearsals and performance. Superior music for your young strings!  Preview and/or purchase here.

  *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

Performers and audiences will love this energetic and catchy piece. The eighth-note/quarter-note motifs that occur throughout the piece sound like the phrase "giddy-up," hence the title of the piece. Preview and/or Purchase here.

 Can you imagine what a conversation among porcupines might sound like? This fun piece depicts adult porcupines (lower strings) interacting with their newly born baby "porcupettes" (upper strings). An exciting aspect of this very accessible piece is stark contrast between tenuto quarter notes and staccato quarter notes representing the softness of hair on the back, sides, and tail of a porcupine and the sharp, needle-like quills. Preview and/or Purchase music here.

 Rowing to Aunt Rhody cleverly weaves together two famous folk songs, “Lightly Row” and “Go Tell Aunt Rhody.” Each melody is introduced separately, then joined together as the two melodies are played simultaneously. Each instrument part has a turn at playing the tune in this very easy and accessible arrangement. Your beginner orchestra will joy in the success of playing this piece for their first audience!  Preview and/or Purchase here.

 *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

 Adapted from Mozart's prominent piano sonata in A major, Sonata for Strings gives young string students an opportunity to play a solid Classical work. The delightful melody is passed among the parts with variations in dynamics, articulation and orchestration.   Preview and/or purchase here.

 *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

Your orchestra’s audience will delight in listening to and recalling these “Two Ancient Carols,” an elegant and accessible medley arrangement of “Il Est Ne” and “Pat-A-Pan.” All parts are equally important, interesting and engaging. This work offers directors the opportunity to introduce 4-3 suspensions, contrasting articulation, canon form, and minor vs. major mode. Superb music for your holiday concert, and excellent teaching material as well!  Preview and/or Purcha

 This joyful selection is propelled by accented, syncopated eighth-note patterns. Each section takes its turn playing the accented accompaniment underneath a lively melody. After a tranquil middle section, the work ends with a joyous, rhythmic punch!  Preview and purchase here.

 Diversify your concert program with this captivating arrangement based on the 1913 Peruvian melody and inspired by traditional Andean mountain music. This arrangement will interest your students as it contains great expressiveness, gorgeous harmonies, a smooth and rustic contrast in the accompaniment, the quotation of the famous Dies Irae Gregorian chant, optional solo parts for violin and cello, and a dramatic ending.  Preview and purchase here.

 In this very original work, the composer  creates a mystical soundscape using pensive harmonies and non-chord tones, including an effective pedal-point. Engage your students on this thoughtful musical experience that will elevate their musicality to higher planes than is the norm at this easier grade level.  Preview and purchase here.

Guilt, regret, anger and mourning… those who remain after tragedy strikes are sometimes overlooked, but this musical memoir remembers and honors the hearts that remain but feel a piece of them has passed away through tragedy. The heartfelt melody is woven with stunning harmonies, intense climaxes and serene tranquility. “Hearts Remaining” will challenge and inspire young musicians to think, feel and play deeply, from the heart, empathizing with those… who remain.   Preview and purchase here.

 An intense theme is introduced in the powerful introduction which later gives way to a faster, menacing rhythmic accompaniment. A 3 part canon evolves and is interrupted by cascading notes demonstrating the huge amount of water that makes its way over the waterfalls. A legato, flowing section follows which ponders the mysteries that lie within the falls. The piece ends with a stately and majestic coda demonstrating the strength and beauty of Horseshoe Falls.  Preview and purchase here.

  *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

This enchanting minor-tonality piece for string orchestra is about fish in a river that swim by Mary, Joseph and the newborn child, Jesus. The fish swim back and forth in the river hoping for a glimpse of the baby. The slurred eighth notes depict the fish swimming relentlessly, the staccato notes symbolize rain droplets as fish would hear them underwater, and the Latin American carol Los Peces en el Rio is heard over the swimming and droplets. Preview and purchase he

 *JW Pepper's Editors Choice

You can almost hear the choir in the background as you listen to the sentimentally beautiful Mountain Hymn. This work will give young musicians practice with lyrical playing and expressive dynamics, all within a piece in D major that falls very easily on young musicians' fingers.  Preview and purchase here.