In A Year of Folk Tunes, November’s key of the month is B Flat Major and G Minor.
I wrote four rounds to help navigate this key. Everyone who played them, got a lot better at the hand positions required for B Flat Major and G Minor.
The rounds have one part doubled so they would be playable with only two parts. In score form, each tune also has an optional piano part for extra rehearsal. The rounds were named after football plays.
Hook and Ladder is in 4/4 time and B Flat Major. The cello begins the first half of the two-part round; the uppers strings take the field first in the second half. In addition to the scales and arpeggios in the melody, double stops are a big part of the action.
Flea Flicker is also in 4/4 time and B Flat Major. There are eighth note followed by dotted quarter note snappy rhythms. All the parts have to count ties as well.
Primarily using eight note patterns, Coffin Kick runs and leaps across the fingerboard. Shifting is needed in the viola and cello parts.
A G minor round in 4/4 time, Wildcat uses position work and bariolage to improve everyone’s technique.
Get the digital sheet music for the new pieces.
Hook and Ladder
Flea Flicker
Coffin Kick
Wildcat
Listen to the canons here.
Hook and Ladder
Flea Flicker
Coffin Kick
Wildcat
Thank-you Sophie for playing the violin in the videos for the new pieces.
Current round count: 44