Composer’s Note:

This work was commissioned by the Suzuki Department of the Cleveland Music School Settlement in 2009, and is dedicated to the hard-working students who gave the premiere of this piece that May.

Traditional Suzuki instruction focuses on teaching string instruments and piano. The instrumentation of this piece is based on this fact, with each instrumental part being composed for easy (the third parts of a section, as in “Cello 3,” for example), moderate (the second parts of a section) or more advanced levels of ability (the first parts of a given section in the ensemble). Violists can double one of the violin or higher cello parts if needed. The multiple piano parts can be divided up in whatever way the ensemble director sees fit. In the event that there aren’t enough pianos for performance, multiple pianists can use the same piano and transpose their parts to higher or lower octaves on their instrument. Last but not least, the percussion part is the ensemble’s ‘metronome,’ and should give a clean, clear pulse for the performers.