Grade 4
Duration: 3’33”
Key: E minor
Instrumentation: Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin3/Viola, Cello, Bass
There are certainly shenanigans afoot in this piece for advanced string orchestra. The melody begins in the 1st violins and weaves itself through varying time signatures of 9/8 and 12/8 with angular offbeat accompaniments juxtaposed against lush string writing. The middle section sees a slight change of pace in 3/4 time with an expressive melody in D major starting in the violas and passed through the violins and cellos. The mischief returns, however, for a spirited and animated ending! Enjoy Celtic Shenanigans!
Neridah Oostenbroek has been teaching strings and classroom music in Brisbane for 20 years. She gained her Bachelor of Music and a Diploma of Secondary Education before later completing a Master of Philosophy in Violin Performance at the University of Queensland with Spiros Rantos. Neridah currently teaches at several schools in Brisbane and conducts workshops, camps and tutorials with school ensembles. She also freelances as a violinist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Vici Strings and as a piano accompanist for music and RAD ballet exams.