Variations on an EnglishPastoral Theme
By Rick England
Grade Level: 3
T h e H i g h l a n d / E t l i n g S t r i n g O r c h e s t r a S e r i e s
A DIVIS ION OF
I N S T R U M E N T A T I O N
Conductor Score 1Violin I 8Violin II 8Viola 5Cello 5String Bass 5
VARIATIONS ON AN ENGLISH PASTORAL THEME
Variations on an English Pastoral Theme is based on the tune“Brother James’s Air.” This version began life as a fall orchestralaudition etude. When the composer noticed that he was stillhearing students play it in March, he realized the variations hadcaptured the imagination of the players and had potential as aneducational tool to teach expressive playing.
At the heart of the piece is the opening violin solo melody, whichis rather free-form in a wistful, quasi-improvisatory folk style—as if played while sitting outdoors on a rock. The melodywanders in and out of modal territory in the manner of early 20thcentury English string suites. Subsequent variations featureguitar-like accompaniment, duets, fragments of melodicmaterial for each instrument, and a wide range of sweepingdynamic contrasts. The piece closes quietly, as it began, but in anew key with the solo in the cello.
The piece honors the composer’s mother who in her last yearsfound great joy in the simple pleasures of watching the birdsoutside her window and listening to children make music.
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