Robin Wedderburn

By the River

Orchestration:
Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola (or Violin 3 or Cello), Cello , Bass (or Cello):

The melody (in the first violin to begin with) should sing expressively; practise and shape this on its own. The accompaniment should flow calmly but the detail should be clear; practise this on its own, too.

There are three alternative parts, not shown in the score. Either or both of Violin 3 and Cello alternative to Viola (in tenor clef, for one or more advanced players) may support or replace the Viola part. The Cello alternative to Double Bass may, in the same way, support or replace the Double Bass part. In one way or another the Double Bass part should be played if possible, although in this piece it may be omitted altogether. (These alternative parts are as nearly as possible the same as the parts they support, although there are some small differences where necessary.)
The music will, of course, sound its very best in the instrumentation given in the score, but a good result is also quite possible with the modifications described above. (This piece will, incidentally, also work well as a string-quartet piece, even with third violin or substitute-cello instead of viola.)

By the River could become the second item in a short, three-movement suite of this composer's pieces, all in the Goodmusic Concert Capers series, as follows:

Intrada - GMCC027 (G major; bold); By the River - GMCC021 (E minor; peaceful); Onward and Upward - GMCC023 (C major; with a cheerful tread)

BY THE RIVER

' . . . we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made . . . ' (Acts 16, v.13)

'Sometimes I sits and thinks, and then again I just sits.' (Punch, 1906)

Duration: 2 minutes
A PACK comprises one full score and strings 4/4/3/4/2 (plus similar numbers of any alternative parts) totalling 25 parts.