Breakneck!

Description

Imagine traveling at breakneck speed! This high-wire composition for developing string orchestras is an intense ride from start to finish. Easy eighth-note patterns create an anchor point while the upper strings “honk,” and cool harmonic tension transports you directly behind the wheel! Long melodic lines over the driving eighth-note patterns create a wonderful effect. Perfect for teaching and counting rests.

Program Notes

Early in 2023, my wife started talking excitedly about purchasing a little red sports car—something that, if I’m being honest, filled me with a sense of dread! It’s not that she’s a bad driver, but my wife is whimsical and prone to bouts of fanciful wonder. Mixing that with a small, fast, zippy red sports car conjured some worrisome images in my mind.

Fast-forward to the end of 2023: that little red sports car now sits in our driveway, and my wife is happy. However, I still harbor a bit of worry, so I channeled that into a positive road experience with “Breakneck!”. Imagine flying (safely) down a winding highway, enjoying life and your zippy sports car! The twists and turns, clever braking, starts and stops, and the steady pace of the engine are all part of this soundscape of sanity for a husband who desperately wants to be happy for his wife’s passion.

Feel free to play with the tempo, as this piece will sound great at its written speed limit but is equally suited to going “just a tad” faster… if you know what I mean.