Thunderstruck

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Thunderstruck is a word I recently heard in a speech I attended. The word immediately brought to mind several musical ideas. This piece is a result of that inspiration. For the developing string ensemble, it provides many musicianship teaching opportunities.The music is bold from the outset and creates the setting for an exciting piece. Being very cinematic in nature, it harkens to some of the great movie scores I enjoy. This bold gesture is countered by a rhythmic eighth-note pattern at m. 9 that returns throughout the piece to provide balance and counterpoint. The dynamics at m. 37 are incredibly important, so make sure the ensemble exaggerates them. The section at m. 50 pulls apart the previous musical elements and creates a colorful tapestry of sound. Some continued development of both musical ideas follows to generate the final push to the end. Thunderstruck is defined as being extremely surprised or shocked, which is the tone of this piece from the outset. The piece is cinematic in nature and hearkens back to some of the great movie scores. This will be just the type of piece students will love to practice and play again and again!

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