F Sharp, C Sharp, G Sharp, D Sharp, A Sharp ….

B is still natural, and E is natural.

In A Year of Folk Tunes, June’s key of the month is B Major and G Sharp Minor. It’s not a key that shows up in a first or second year method book. However, when you need to be able to use it, it’s usually urgent!

I wrote four rounds to help navigate this key. Everyone who played them, got a lot better at the hand positions required for B Major and G 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.

Catch Some Rays is in B Major and 3/4 time. The violin and viola lead off in this tune.

Catch Some Air is also in B Major. The canon in 4/4 time uses rests to incorporate the air space into the thought process. Watch the last measure in the violin part, it is surprisingly tricky.

Catch Some Waves is beautiful with crescendos and diminuendos on the rising and falling eighth notes.

The G Sharp minor round is Catch Me if You Can. The articulation brings to mind someone on tip-toe. The low voice gets to begin this round.

The sheet music for the rounds is available as a digital download.
Catch Some Rays for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Catch Some Waves for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Catch Some Air for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Catch Me if You Can for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano

Listen to the rounds here.

Catch Some Rays
Catch Some Air
Catch Some Waves
Catch Me if You Can

Thank-you Sophie for playing the violin part in the videos.

Current Round Count: 24