Might be conducting a mini ensemble for Christmas concert at school

[invictious]

Well as the title says, the ensemble consists of this, and it will be my first time conducting if the teacher allows:

3 1st violins
2 2nd violins
1/2 Violist
2 cellists

Total: 7 or 8, all strings
For christmas, I have a few ideas, and I am not sure if they would be appropriate

Mozart - Eine Kleine Natchmusik
Tacobell  ! - Canon in D
Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings in C, Walzer (II)

Which one of those would be most appropriate?
And it's my first time conducting a real ensemble, so I need advice.

Including how to motivate the people, actually lead the people, and most importantly, get them to watch ME, not that pretty emcee in sexy christmas wear.

Oh yes, is a conductor for 8 actually needed>

[thierry13]

Oh yes, is a conductor for 8 actually needed>

A complete symphonic orchestra do not REALLY need more of a conductor than your little ensemble. It depends about the music youre playing in itself. If there are a lot of rubato, tempo changes, rit etc. etc. well you need a conductor, even if it would be only 4 people playing. And a symphonic work with even rythm, all along, well wouldnt really need a conductor. But all symphonic works have tempo changes so... thats about it.

[kempff1234]

YAY

I conducted my school's orchestra which consists of around 18 people last year. We performed some Bach, Tchaikovsky and Britten. It was really fun, plus i got like 5 minutes of continuous applause.....

Fortunately, my group was really motivated and we didn't have any major problems, they lisened to everything and of course looked at me all the time

[invictious]

Thanks for your inputs for now.

How can I not look ridiculous with only a group of 8?

Which of the above pieces are most appropriate for Christmas?

[kempff1234]

Well let's just say that you won't look ridiculous and who ever laughs at you is bloody moron with testicles instead of a brain

[invictious]

Alright thanks.

So you people still haven't answer one essential question, which piece is the most appropriate in this occassion?

[thierry13]

Even if it's kinda ALLWAYS played, I think the tacobell ( ) Canon in d would be the more suitable choice ... I wouldn't play the Mozart ... and I don't know the Tchaik ... but I think the canon is suitable.

[invictious]

Why not the mozart? it's for christmas!

The tchaik is a beautiful piece.

[desordre]

 Dear Invictious:
 I think both Pachelbel and Tchaikovsky are a great choice: the parts are not difficult, and the music is very straightforward. Also, the public love the music.
 I'm not sure about the Mozart, because it's a bit long, and despite the simple mood, its interpretation might be a headache. In other words, it's very easy to play it very bad. Why not trying an early string quartet by Haydn? Something of the opus 2 or 20, even if not complete, will sound quite fresh.
 Another idea that came to my mind is Giovanni B. Sammartini. He was an italian composer of the mid-18th century, and have lots of works for string orchestra.
 Hope it helps!
 BesT!

[kempff1234]

Do the Mozart and the Tchaik

at least that's what I would like to hear in a christmas concert

as for encore, play some Ligetti.........

[invictious]

ok, I think I might go do the tchaik, but due to resources:

No double bass, has to be covered by cello
Only I viola 1 think


and more importantly, no separate scores for the violins, violas, and cellos and basses, I only have the full score.
Can anyone here provide the separate score for each part?

[invictious]

I need the separate parts for the violins, violas, and cellos and basses, I need it by the end of this week, but I don't have this much time, I still have to study the score.

Anyone? please

[ramseytheii]

I need the separate parts for the violins, violas, and cellos and basses, I need it by the end of this week, but I don't have this much time, I still have to study the score.

Anyone? please

You should type it all into Sibelius or Finale, and then those programs can separate all teh staves into parts and print them individually.  This way you study the score at the same time.

Walter Ramsey

[invictious]

I am still shaky about choosing the pieces.

If anyone has other suggestions, can they also please provide the full score and separate scores along?

[quantum]

An excellent conducting book.  Only 127 pages, and you can finish reading it in a couple days.  I used this in university and I highly recommend it:

https://www.amazon.ca/Conducting-Technique-Beginners-Professionals-Mcelheran/dp/0193858304/sr=8-2/qid=1161263394/ref=sr_1_2/702-9736974-9995268?ie=UTF8&s=books

[invictious]

Redirection to this link

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,21312.0.html

Thanks for your inputs