Star Gazers Suite was inspired by an orchestra teacher, Julie Nolan, who was searching for multi-movement works to play with her first-year students. We had a great conversation about what that might look like – each movement like a lesson introducing a new concept, but also giving the players a real concert piece to prepare for performance. Plus, bonus points if it could support an interdisciplinary curriculum! Star Gazers Suite is the result of trying to connect all these ideas. Each movement portrays a constellation in the night sky, so there is an opportunity to connect this music to science and astronomy. Unison playing is required throughout the entire piece, while the individual movements provide additional focus as follows:

1. Pisces (the Fish) = 4/4 time; open strings; pizzicato
2. Ursa Major (the Big Bear & Big Dipper) = Detache quartet notes; bow retakes
3. Ursa Minor (the Little Bear & Little Dipper) = Quarter note/eighth note pattern; minor tonality, accents
4. Cygnus (the Swan) = 3/4 time; G-string notes; playing in canon
5. Orion (the Hunter) = 2/4 time; more complex rhythms; col legno bowing

I hope you and your students enjoy Star Gazers Suite!