The Highwire
by Alan Lee Silva
String Orchestra - Sheet Music

Orchestra Cello, Contrabass, Piano, Viola, Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3 - Grade 2.5

SKU: CF.YAS149

Composed by Alan Lee Silva. Young String Orchestra. Set of Score and Parts. With Standard notation. 16+4+16+10+5+5+3+8 pages. Duration 2 minutes, 29 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #YAS149. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.YAS149).

ISBN 9780825898990. UPC: 798408098995. 9x12 inches. Key: A minor.

Just as the title describes, this piece walks the highwire from pointed driving rhythms to sonorous lyrical lines. It is signature Alan Lee Silva at his best, with flowing, melodic lines and lush harmonies. The Highwire is another shining example of why his music is loved by students and teachers alike.
The Highwire suspense begins from the opening measure with soft pulsing, repeated notes in violin 1 and tremolo harmonies in violin 2 and viola. The cellos and basses announce marcato motifs of the driving A-minor main theme in mm. 512, and the full ensemble grows in volume and intensity. The form of the piece is introduction-A-A-B-B-C-A-B and conclusion. Violin 1 makes the first full statement of the melody in mm. 1320 over punctuated downbeats in the low strings. In m. 21, the cellos and basses return to the driving melody, accompanied by undulating tremolos in the upper strings. After the forte-piano marking in m. 21, the orchestra builds in intensity over four measures, and then the playing style abruptly changes in m. 25. The soaring double B-section (mm. 2538) features a legato, espressivo violin 1 melody, accompanied by lush voicings in the rest of the group. This section is flowing and emotional (with two staccato, passing phrases in the low strings in mm. 28 and 36), and each section has a chance to shine with a cantabile-style melodic phrase. A brief five-measure interlude in mm. 3943, highlighted by driving, staccato violins, is supported by accented hits in the low strings. A tonality shift occurs with the new material at the bridge in mm. 4453. This section spotlights precise, staccato, tutti figures and question-answer dynamic changes in each measure, which alternate between forte and piano. At m. 54, the piece returns to a partial statement of the A-section with violins playing the theme over accented stabs in the cellos and basses. A portion of the legato B-section is reprised at m. 58, leading to a return of the marcato interlude theme in mm. 6469. Driving cellos and basses head the charge to the ending with their bold, staccato figures in mm. 6869. The entire ensemble, playing the accented unisons in mm. 7173 finishes the piece explosively.
The Highwire suspense begins from the opening measure with soft pulsing, repeated notes in violin 1 and tremolo harmonies in violin 2 and viola. The cellos and basses announce marcato motifs of the driving A-minor main theme in mm. 5a12, and the full ensemble grows in volume and intensity. The form of the piece is introduction-A-Aa-B-B-C-Aa-Ba and conclusion. Violin 1 makes the first full statement of the melody in mm. 13a20 over punctuated downbeats in the low strings. In m. 21, the cellos and basses return to the driving melody, accompanied by undulating tremolos in the upper strings. After the forte-piano marking in m. 21, the orchestra builds in intensity over four measures, and then the playing style abruptly changes in m. 25. The soaring double B-section (mm. 25a38) features a legato, espressivo violin 1 melody, accompanied by lush voicings in the rest of the group. This section is flowing and emotional (with two staccato, passing phrases in the low strings in mm. 28 and 36), and each section has a chance to shine with a cantabile-style melodic phrase. A brief five-measure interlude in mm. 39a43, highlighted by driving, staccato violins, is supported by accented hits in the low strings. A tonality shift occurs with the new material at the bridge in mm. 44a53. This section spotlights precise, staccato, tutti figures and question-answer dynamic changes in each measure, which alternate between forte and piano. At m. 54, the piece returns to a partial statement of the A-section with violins playing the theme over accented stabs in the cellos and basses. A portion of the legato B-section is reprised at m. 58, leading to a return of the marcato interlude theme in mm. 64a69. Driving cellos and basses head the charge to the ending with their bold, staccato figures in mm. 68a69. The entire ensemble, playing the accented unisons in mm. 71a73 finishes the piece explosively.
The Highwire suspense begins from the opening measure with soft pulsing, repeated notes in violin 1 and tremolo harmonies in violin 2 and viola. The cellos and basses announce marcato motifs of the driving A-minor main theme in mm. 5-12, and the full ensemble grows in volume and intensity. The form of the piece is introduction-A-A'-B-B-C-A'-B' and conclusion. Violin 1 makes the first full statement of the melody in mm. 13-20 over punctuated downbeats in the low strings. In m. 21, the cellos and basses return to the driving melody, accompanied by undulating tremolos in the upper strings. After the forte-piano marking in m. 21, the orchestra builds in intensity over four measures, and then the playing style abruptly changes in m. 25. The soaring double B-section (mm. 25-38) features a legato, espressivo violin 1 melody, accompanied by lush voicings in the rest of the group. This section is flowing and emotional (with two staccato, passing phrases in the low strings in mm. 28 and 36), and each section has a chance to shine with a cantabile-style melodic phrase. A brief five-measure interlude in mm. 39-43, highlighted by driving, staccato violins, is supported by accented hits in the low strings. A tonality shift occurs with the new material at the bridge in mm. 44-53. This section spotlights precise, staccato, tutti figures and question-answer dynamic changes in each measure, which alternate between forte and piano. At m. 54, the piece returns to a partial statement of the A-section with violins playing the theme over accented stabs in the cellos and basses. A portion of the legato B-section is reprised at m. 58, leading to a return of the marcato interlude theme in mm. 64-69. Driving cellos and basses head the charge to the ending with their bold, staccato figures in mm. 68-69. The entire ensemble, playing the accented unisons in mm. 71-73 finishes the piece explosively.
The Highwire suspense begins from the opening measure with soft pulsing, repeated notes in violin 1 and tremolo harmonies in violin 2 and viola. The cellos and basses announce marcato motifs of the driving A-minor main theme in mm. 5–12, and the full ensemble grows in volume and intensity.The form of the piece is introduction-A-A’-B-B-C-A’-B’ and conclusion. Violin 1 makes the first full statement of the melody in mm. 13–20 over punctuated downbeats in the low strings. In m. 21, the cellos and basses return to the driving melody, accompanied by undulating tremolos in the upper strings. After the forte-piano marking in m. 21, the orchestra builds in intensity over four measures, and then the playing style abruptly changes in m. 25.The soaring double B-section (mm. 25–38) features a legato, espressivo violin 1 melody, accompanied by lush voicings in the rest of the group. This section is flowing and emotional (with two staccato, passing phrases in the low strings in mm. 28and 36), and each section has a chance to shine with a cantabile-style melodic phrase. A brief five-measure interlude in mm. 39–43, highlighted by driving, staccato violins, is supported by accented hits in the low strings.A tonality shift occurs with the new material at the bridge in mm. 44–53. This section spotlights precise, staccato, tutti figures and question-answer dynamic changes in each measure, which alternate between forte and piano. At m. 54, the piece returns to a partial statement of the A-section with violins playing thetheme over accented stabs in the cellos and basses. A portion of the legato B-section is reprised at m. 58, leading to a return of the marcato interlude theme in mm. 64–69. Driving cellos and basses head the charge to the ending with their bold, staccato figures in mm. 68–69. The entire ensemble, playing the accented unisons in mm. 71–73 finishes the piece explosively.

About Carl Fischer Young String Orchestra Series

This series of Grade 2/Grade 2.5 pieces is designed for second and third year ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:
--Occasionally extending to third position
--Keys carefully considered for appropriate difficulty
--Addition of separate 2nd violin and viola parts
--Viola T.C. part included
--Increase in independence of parts over beginning levels