Star Gazers Suite

Each movement in the suite portrays a constellation in the night sky, so there is a cross-curricular opportunity to connect this music to science and astronomy. Unison playing is required throughout the entire piece, while the individual movements provide additional focus: Pisces (the Fish) is in 4/4 time, with open strings and pizzicato; Ursa Major (the Big Bear or Big Dipper) features détaché quartet notes and bow retakes; Ursa Minor (the Little Bear or Little Dipper) emphasizes quarter- and eighth-note patterns, minor tonality, and accents; Cygnus (the Swan) is in 3/4 time with G-string notes and playing in canon; and Orion (the Hunter) is in 2/4 time, with more complex rhythms and col legno bowing.