The bird canons for string ensemble are in E Major and C Sharp 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 options. The rounds provided supplemental material for the students working through A Year of Folk Tunes. Any student who needs more practice with four sharps will find them valuable.

Pelican Gulp opens with the cello part. The violin and viola parts are doubled. Work on legato sound and watch out for the D sharps.

Eagles Landing has the violin and viola parts doubled. Watch the G sharps in particular.

Turkey Trot uses syncopated rhythms to emulate the dancing birds. Once it’s learned, a nice brisk tempo is terrific.

Kiwi Can-can is a C sharp minor round. The cello part starts the piece and the violin and viola parts are doubled.

The sheet music is available as a digital download.

Pelican Gulp
Eagles Landing
Turkey Trot
Kiwi Can-can

Listen to the rounds here.

Pelican Gulp
Eagles Landing
Turkey Trot
Kiwi Can-can

Thank-you Jacob for playing the cello part in the videos.

Current round count: 20

If you’d like to title a round, information is available here.