Sweet Betsy from Pike is the G Major tune in A Year of Folk Tunes for Piano. It is now available as a digital download. In addition to the piano solo, four warm-ups in the key of G are included to make it easier to learn. The first verse can be played with no hands together notes and could stand alone as a solo. The second verse requires hands together and an extension of the thumb for B.
The March canons for string ensemble are in D Major and B Minor. Most of 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.
In March Hare eighth note slur four patterns in the key of D are the order of the day. The hare is hopping and skittering here and there.
Lady Luck uses only notes of the D Major arpeggio. The viola and cello parts incorporate shifting in order to include a high F Sharp. The violins were surprised by the A on the G string. A great piece for working on intonation across the fingerboard. This is a three-part round with no parts being doubled.
Garden Path is in 3/4 time. The opening statement is followed with phrases which begin with quarter rests. It is a great way to practice melodic and accompaniment playing in the same piece.
The fourth round is in B Minor. Cloudy Day with Wind is in 12/8 time. Playing the B to C sharp on the G string in tune is critical for this canon.
The sheet music for all four rounds is now available.
An elegant new duet arrangement of Amazing Grace is now available. It is suitable for church or recital performance. The cello and the piano both have melodic sections. The cello part requires some shifting but doesn’t go higher than fourth position. The sheet music is available as a digital download. If you would like to hear it, listen to the video on YouTube.
The next four canons for string ensemble are in G Major. All of 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.
Go Bananas! is working the eighth, quarter, eighth syncopated pattern. It can be helpful to chant the rhythm as a teaching hook. “Bananas, bananas, Go (shh) Bananas!”
In Apple Pie the two eighth note, quarter note pattern is the hero of the day. Speak “Apple pie, apple pie” to get the hang of it.
Watermelon Wizard is the next tune in the collection. For this one, the violin and cello parts are doubled leaving the violists to shine as an independent part. The spellbinding rhythmic chant is, ” Watermelon Wizard, Watermelon Wizard, watermelon, watermelon, Watermelon Wizard!”
The fourth round is an entire Fruit Salad. I used “cherries, apples, cherries, grapes and watermelon, pears, pears, watermelon, peaches, cherries, apples, bananas,” but feel free to substitute fruits of your choice.
The sheet music for all four rounds is now available.
A new duet arrangement of Amazing Grace is available as a digital download. There is a version for two violins or treble clef instruments. A second version is in alto clef for violists. The third set is for cello or two bass clef instruments. All of the duets are compatible with each other for mixed ensemble playing. You can hear the cello duet in this video.
Miriam Troxler resides in Beaver, Pa, where she runs a private music studio.
After graduation from Chatham University, she toured in Europe with the Continental Singers Orchestra as principal cellist. A long time member of Greenville Symphony Orchestra, she is also the founder and musical director of CelloBrationS. Miriam enjoys composing and arranging with several published pieces to date.
Miriam Troxler 