Doris Gazda taught for many years in the Montgomery County, Maryland, public schools and most recently at Arizona State University. Her music was written for her students to play at concerts while giving them exciting learning experiences. Everyone gets the melody or an important harmony part during the course of a piece. Often, a specific technical problem is targeted, but the technique never gets in the way of a joyous musical experience.

Appalachian Sunrise, Grade 2 (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Appalachian Sunrise” was inspired by the composer’s many hikes on the Appalachian Trail. Its lyrical style and long melodic lines have become a favorite of children, teachers, and audiences. Its final climax represents the moment of sunrise in the mountains.

Banana Boogie, Banana Boogie is written in the style of the swing blues rhythm that was originally played on the piano and called “boogie-woogie.” This is dance music that today is called, “East Coast Swing.” Orchestras can have fun with this by adding improvisation, changing notes and making use of pizzicato at times.

Bisbee Hill March, for BAND, Grade 2½ (Carl Fischer)
A peppy march for intermediate band that is named for the copper mining town in southern Arizona.

Columbia River Suite Grade: level three orchestra simultaneously with a level one orchestra (Carl Fischer).
Commissioned by the Lake Oswego, Oregon schools for their 2003 orchestra festival.
Three movements entitled Cascades, Moonlight on the River and Paddling to the Sea in contrasting styles with melodies and rhythms reminiscent of the motion of the water.

Desert Chimes, Grade 3 (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Desert Chimes” was inspired by the tall, stately appearance of the saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert. It has a tubular chime part that is optional. The chime part is almost always doubled in the string parts. A special guest such as the school principal could be invited to play the chime part. The piece includes harmonics in the upper string parts that resemble the sound of chimes.

Durango Tango, Grade 3 (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Durango Tango” is a lively Latin piece with a strong tango rhythm. It alternates between major and minor tonalities.

Fanfare for Strings, Grade 1 ½ (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Fanfare for Strings” was composed to fulfill the need for a strong opening work or a “grand finale” at a string festival concert. Its full sound and straightforward approach makes it appropriate for all levels and sizes of performing groups. The parts are designed to accommodate students who play only in first position; however, both the first violin and cello parts contain optional passages in positions. The optional timpani part provides an exciting sound especially when used with a large string orchestra.

Flower Song,One of the most famous songs in the opera, Lakme by Delibes, is “Flower Song” which is sung by Lakmé, and her servant, Millika in a beautiful temple garden. The song is part of the standard opera repertoire. It became famous when it was heard by millions on television in commercials for British Airways. It has been used in movies and in TV shows such as The Simpsons.

German Dances, Grade 2 (Carl Fischer)
These German dances originally written for strings and woodwinds by Mozart are known as “Ländler.” They are written in ¾ time and have short 8-measure phrases.

Las Posadas Grade Medium or 2 ½ (Carl Fischer)
A delightful Mexican Christmas Carol with an optional harp part. Words are included

Mars Hill, Grade 3 ½ (Neil A. Kjos Music Company), for strings or full orchestra
“Mars Hill”, the location of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona where the planet Pluto was discovered, was composed with thoughts of the night sky, planets and space exploration. The three contrasting sections present opportunities for developing musical depth and expression.

Mission Song, Grade 2 (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Mission Song” is an Old Spanish Folk Hymn sung by the Tohono Oodam Indians at the Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson, Arizona. Although written for harp and strings or guitar and trings, strings can play it alone. It flows in a lilting six-eight rhythm and presents few technical difficulties. All levels of players can perform this piece.

Nocturne, Ole Bull arr. Doris Gazda, Grade 3½ (Carl Fischer)
Ole Bull, Norwegian concert violinist (1810-1880) concertized extensively in the United States and loved to perform Norwegian Folk Music as well as many of his own compositions. Only three of his compositions were published, “Nocturne” being one of those. It may have been published previously in Norway but was finally published after his death by Carl Fischer in New York City in 1913. This is the first time it has been arranged for string orchestra.

The Olive Tree, Arlene Stein arr. Gazda, Grade 2 (Neil A Kjos Music Co.). . . with its haunting melodies in both major and minor modes, The Olive Tree is arranged for strings and harp. Its lyrical qualities will remind you of the beauty and sweep of the ancient olive trees that grow in the Mediterranean region.

One Small Step, Grade 2 (Carl Fischer) Commissioned by the Bellevue (WA) Youth Symphony Orchestra
“One Small Step . . .” commemorates the historic moon landing by depicting musically the Apollo 11 mission’s series of events. It starts with launching the rocket and entering space using the musical effects of tremolo, harmonics and pizzicato. This is followed by a section in the musical form of a Passacaglia that portrays the feeling of time passing in the process of traveling through space. A passage of descending tones describes the moon landing and is followed by a few measures working up to the “First Step.” The concluding section depicts walking on the moon and the grand feeling of the success of the Apollo 11 mission.

Poco Polka, Grade 2 (Highland/Etling/Alfred)
“Poco Polka” could be labeled as Grade 3 when it is played at a fast polka tempo. It sounds much harder than it is to play so it a real winner for teachers! Its rollicking polka style makes it a lot of fun to play.

Red Rock Rag, Grade 3 ½ (Carl Fischer)
This energetic rag turns into a jazz waltz and then into a section with changing time signatures before returning to the ragtime beat. It is rhythmically adventurous and provides some use of the positions.

Roadrunner Rally, Grade 2 (Carl Fischer)
Roadrunner rally is a lively piece making use of repeated spiccato notes that will make you think of the roadrunner running along the ground. It gives the bass and cello sections a walking bass line over which you will hear the “beep-beep” of the roadrunner.

Rip-Roarin’ Fiddlin’, Grade 1 (Carl Fischer)
“Rip Roarin” Fiddlin’”Is an energetic fiddling piece with stomping, pizzicato and some double stops played with an open string.

Shadow Mountain, Grade 2 ½ (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Shadow Mountain” is written in three sections. The first section, called “The Quiet Trail,” is a good piece for working on vibrato and legato bowing. The second section, “Ridin’ the Ridge,” is written in 7/4. The rhythmic structure gives the feel of a horse loping along the trail. “Campfire,” the third section, is a lively dance that makes use of the brushed spiccato stroke.

Song of the Volga Boatman, Grade 1 (Carl Fischer)
An easy arrangement of an Old Russian Folk Song

Song of Sedona, Grade 3 ½ (Neil a Kjos Music Company) for Mariachi Band or String Orchestra. Vocal part included.
A melodious song with Latin rhythm that has a vocal line included in all of the instrumental parts
It reflects the beauty of the Red Rocks and Oak Creek Canyon in the rim country of Arizona.

The music of your call . . . from canyon walls . . . my dear Sedona
The echo carried true . . . each time I drew near . . . your canyon home.....

Stringtown Road Rag, Grade 2 ½ Highland/Etling/Alfred)
Written in the old Ragtime style, “Stringtown Road Rag” contains many typical rag rhythms and makes use of chromatic motion in the melody and the bass lines. Taken up to tempo, it presents a fun-filled challenge and can be played by orchestras of any grade level.

Stringtown Stroll, Grade 2 (Highiand/Etling/Alfred)
“Stringtown Stroll” is an easy introduction to the “swing” rhythmic style and to a walking bass line. It has important parts for all of the instruments and gives young string players the opportunity to play a “cool” concert piece.

Suite on Numbers, Grade 1 (Neil A. Kjos Music Company)
“Suite on Numbers” was written as a performance piece to emphasize the study of time signatures and rhythms. The four parts are: “One to Get Ready”, one beat to a measure in whole notes; “Double Up”, in Cut time introducing wrist and finger stroke on the repeated notes; “Triple Treat”, in the style of a Viennese waltz with triplets in the melody; and, “Fourth Quarter’, a march that stresses counting rests.

Tune-A-Rumble, Grade 0 (Carl Fischer)
“Tune-A-Rumble” is a unison, open string piece for beginners with a lively boogie-style piano accompaniment. It uses half, quarter and eighth notes in basic rhythms and provides opportunities for the teacher to add rhythmic patterns.

Willow-Wood Copse, Grade Medium or 2 ½ (Carl Fischer)
“Willow-Wood Copse” is a wistful melody that might accompany a stroll in a woodland copse. The gentle waltz-like lilt promotes feelings of musical expressions and beautiful tone. To assist in learning, a few studies accompany the piece.