Incantations, by Richard Meyer - Score & Sound

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Incantations
By Richard Meyer
Item: 00-22310
Series: String Orchestra
Category: String Orchestra
Format: Conductor Score & Parts
Level: 4
"Energetic" and "hard-driving" best describe this tour de force for high school orchestra. Two solo violins and a solo viola introduce this piece through a haunting, lyrical theme. The theme is subsequently taken up by the entire orchestra and expanded, gradually morphing into a fast and frenetic second theme that is aggressive and virtuosic in nature. This second theme is developed in an equally vigorous pizzicato section. The two themes are then heard at the same time, each vying for attention. The pace slackens momentarily before a wildly frantic coda closes the piece. Full of color and intriguing tonalities, this highly original work gives every section of the mature string orchestra a chance to shine. This title is available in SmartMusic.
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[@truccc_terri]

bro sometimes richard myer be on some crazy shit and compose such masterpieces like this-😭

[@quirmi_6770]

It’s always the old orchestra teachers that put that extra spice in thier composition work-

[@birb901]

he taught our orchestra at pyso and whenever he wanted a section to quiet down he would yell shut up 💀

[@ava.noellez]

​@birb901 My math teacher in a nutshell.

[@birb901]

theres a pyso in pasadena cali and he used to teach there@@ava.noellez

[@samsv289]

the masterpiece in question

[@madmanesprit]

Richard Meyer 🤝 highschoolers

[@JacksonHollo]

hey, you’re not wrong

[@gvg211]

For me we played this in middle school, its was a little easy for me since im a bassist, but it is still one of my favorite school pieces

[@untitleddocument2344]

Frl 😂

[@speedysupermessi]

I played this as well last year for my last year of high school and we got straight 1's on UIL like that's a good way to leave high school

[@untitleddocument2344]

@@speedysupermessi we love lgpe 🤞🏾

[@benkeene1582]

This is a beast of a piece for seconds.

[@LEAH_666]

I'm a second lol I agree

[@michaelflores6253]

Like what a little magical mushroom?

[@Myfavoritecuties]

Does this piece remind you of a childhood show from the 2000s called BOOHBAH?

[@Zyxwvut_]

I played second and the amount of times I have practiced this piece 😂

[@person7587]

Hell yea, but the firsts have to go to like 7th position...

[@livrene9917]

i need some of whatever richard meyer is on when hes composing

[@jweaver_]

"The best music is preformed in Bb" - Every composer ever

[@burnbook3076]

Debatable, i mean inverno exists

[@Kyle-ur4mr]

The fast part is g minor but 2 flats I get u

[@ava.noellez]

I beg to differ, A major is 🌟 beautiful. 🌟

[@oliviawang2219]

@@burnbook3076 that's in F minor lol

[@the-chipette]

I played this in high school over 15 years ago the season it first debuted as a 1st violin soloist. I came across a score copy in a box of old things and am happy to know that technology has advanced enough where one can listen to this anytime, anywhere. :)

[@chocolateteapot734k]

Richard never disappoints us with advanced/beginning music piece compositions

[@jetzbeshort83]

The violins in the beginning doe

[@audreyjones7990]

@@p1k440 violin harmonic

[@audreyjones7990]

@@p1k440 is he? Idk it starts with violin harmonic and then continues with trio

[@michaelflores6253]

@@audreyjones7990 yes it’s not in the mid of the fingerboard tho it’s more like the middle of the middle

[@quirmi_6770]

I mean no wonder it abounds so good it’s a harmonic lol

[@TheRealKat_]

@@michaelflores6253 isn't that just third position

[@julianabramo245]

~Themes~ 0:04 First Theme (Measure 1) 1:45 Theme 2 (Measure 44) 3:09 Development Section (Measure 90) ~Soli/Solos~ 0:08 Violin Solo (Measure 3) 0:45 Viola & Cello Soli (Measure 20) 1:39 Bass Solo (Measure 41) I hoped this helped you to practice! You’ll be able to master this piece! You can do it! Practice is key!

[@abriellerobare5465]

eeee this is such a good composition, but it's so hard, especially the 5/4 section!!

[@Yourfriendlysuburbanstoner]

Abrielle Robare That’s the one part I cant get 😂

[@trajan_x0128]

Good composition, excluding the pizz part

[@bradfordlehmann7508]

Counting to 5 has never been so hard. Also as a bass, gotta love that we get something that we don't share with the cellos.

[@xaf0163]

5/4 is incredibly easy in this piece considering it’s only 6 measures or something like that. nothing seems difficult after you’ve had a go at tchaikovskys 6th

[@thomasgielow6868]

Yea sorry but come back after playing Mars by Holst. Now THAT is counting to 5 lol

[@benjibean8431]

This song is so fun and exciting! I got to play the top solo at the beginning for one of my concerts in 9th Grade.

[@3dprintingchannel280]

The violas at 1:55 awesome

[@aswomebro2601]

0:53 listen to that decrecendo, then it hits you with the viola. That was really inspiring

[@politics4me1]

Middle School Chamber is playing this now, and it is not easy especially the 5/4 section. I think it's creepy/beautiful and needs to be in a horror film.

[@Fatima-hl2qg]

Angelee DeHaven ur middle school is playing it while my high school is stuck playing grade 3s and easy 4s.

[@laithmarji8320]

Where’s the 5/4 section?

[@TheTribeOfNeftali]

@@laithmarji8320 3:07

[@RandomGuy-gp4qz]

No, I think it goes good with a Harry Potter type film.

[@deoderick8924]

Had fun playing this in my freshmen year

[@RinRix]

DeoDerick it’s my freshman year right now and we were going to play it but corona :(

[@fernandolevanti5574]

Yea, but I’m leaving orchestra cuz I didn’t have the motive to play anymore

[@bettyoster6916]

I really want to be in a movie where this score is in the opening title.

[@apollo10yearsago66]

So enchanting and mysterious 😍

[@Myfavoritecuties]

Does this piece remind you of a childhood show from the 2000s called BOOHBAH?

[@zaaachhyyy]

Incantations has two meanings. It is the ritual to summon a demon and it can also mean like a witches spell.

[@sambrainard422]

This is my favorite piece of music ever! My orchestra was going to play this last year, but we bombed it in the rehearsal. I begged my orchestra director if we could play try it again and they agreed! I just love how loud but mysterious it sounds, especially the pizzicato part!

[@indi.v]

this is just a personal thing - 3:54

[@minefan7]

Magnificent piece. Probably my favorite part is at 3:53 when the two themes start playing as a mysterious and exciting ending, creating just a wonderful feeling when listening I really can’t wait to get my hands on this

[@samsv289]

sounds unbelievably sloppy the themes do not mesh at all there idk why you like that part

[@ajbaisley99]

Everybody knows that the best part is at 1:38 :D

[@itsjustshelby246]

more like inCANTations

[@bettyoster6916]

this is beautifully genuine. what on earth are you talking about?

[@bettyoster6916]

@mou I can play a LITTLE bit of the beginning. That too much to bargain for.

[@iandugger1168]

though I’m a violist, I did it on my 2nd and a half year, but I agree that it’s a very challenging piece, and I’m proud of myself. Not trying to brag lol

[@bettyoster6916]

@@iandugger1168 good, good.

[@polaris7346]

i'm weeeakkkk lmaooooo

[@tysonmeade8881]

That climax that leads to the end of the piece is so good (4:04)

[@quirmi_6770]

I wish it ended at 4:32 ending as calmly and mysterious as it started 👌😔😔😔

[@TheRealKat_]

@@quirmi_6770 I agree

[@michaelflores6253]

We played this and I got the solo let’s say the people who play the solos were good and the rest weren’t. But it’s a fantastic piece

[@cellomanlee]

We just started this piece today in Middle School and I love it already

[@unnamed7398]

i really wanna play this but my class probably would get lost after the 43rd measure (i mean the part in general, they'd probably actually get lost at measure 48)

[@bettyoster6916]

ok....

[@sararobinson8147]

lmao I played this piece my freshman year of high school and I get that.

[@bettyoster6916]

@@sararobinson8147 [dramatic jaw drop].

[@sih6099]

@Bijay Gurung Yeah we played this in our middle school!

[@Aviator_-yv6os]

My class just got this piece and it is SO HARD

[@sandwich1525]

I wanna play this in highschool😭 1 more year🔥🔥🔥👍👍👍💪💪💪💅🏽💅🏽💯💯

[@golddiamond7283]

So beautiful. I can play this

[@Myfavoritecuties]

It’s enchantingly hard

[@kyanii3426]

I remember learning this in 7th grade... then everything got canceled the week before our concert :,) never got to touch this piece again

[@maddiesuzanne3601]

Seventh grade excuse me earlier this year I struggled to play this as a ninth grader in the higher orchestra your amazing!

[@OlyBrawlyYT]

This piece is light

[@kayatalbert3127]

im so excited for this piece aaaah! im 1st violin but im doing pretty ok

[@Robert_E.O_Speedwagon_]

Currently playing this in highschool on viola, I really struggle with the doubles 😭

[@peach_tea0]

Omg same, especially this part 4:06 I have a chair test on this and a treble clef section in another piece, wish me luck 😭

[@dogocatostudios8719]

Same. I can get my fingers to move fast enough for the ending, but my bow always lags behind,

[@PotatoEchidna-xr6oj]

Pieces from the nutcracker are fun to play❤

[@nascarfan9534]

I’m I the only one that gets Harry Potter vibes from this piece?

[@bettyoster6916]

yep.

[@bettyoster6916]

Actually, nah. You isn't the only one. From the very start, when I first heard this piece, I was having thoughts such as, "This sounds like it's from a movie." to "Is this from a movie?" At my first concert of this school year (I'm a junior), I asked a student sitting next to me, and she said no. Other thoughts were, "Sounds like it has to be in a movie." to "It really has that magic feel." Uh-huh, I so very agree with your comment, 'cuz I feel that same way. But why just those Harry Potter vibes? As I was listening to this, I was getting vibes from The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, etc. But you are quite reasonable.

[@bettyoster6916]

@Debdarkside209 UwU oh,.... uh, okay.

[@bettyoster6916]

@Debdarkside209 UwU wait.... what did I say?

[@bettyoster6916]

0:30-0:46- Harry Potter. 0:47-1:10- Chronicles of Narnia. 1:46-3:04- Chronicles of Narnia (again). 3:05-end- Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Those are my vibes.

[@doctornick17]

In our 7th/8th grade orchestra (7th and 8th grade are combined) we're playing this piece and its so hard but it gives off some sort of satisfactory vibes after I finish it. I hate how hard it is though.

[@michellelapage4549]

My son's class is playing this at Carnegie hall in 2 weeks.

[@myaga]

0:47 cello and viola soli TOO GOOD

[@bridgetm1081]

1:46 measure 44

[@jamesfitzgeraldpatricksain9471]

?

[@iandugger1168]

@Oof was probably just a mark for where their playing test was, or a part they liked (doubt it, that part isn’t THAT good).

[@blehblehleh7242]

I wanna play this but no one except the firsts can keep up ugh

[@wbjeg]

not surprising

[@xx_.strawberryxjam._xx3231]

Haha it's ironic because for my grade it would only be the cellos and me, the one viola that actually plays correctly

[@olivia-mo7gs]

The violinists at my school suck can you spare any 😫

[@katmarlow5789]

thats what happens when directors put all the “good” violinists into first rather than challenging students and creating strong sections all around

[@listenercryptid]

i wish we could play this in chamber but i doubt our teacher would let us since he only lets us do standard repertoire :(

[@JacksonHollo]

@cryptid wats repertoire?

[@kindanooby2988]

General music to practice. So like a piece or an excerpt

[@Myfavoritecuties]

I did!

[@cryo_cynn]

2:30 measure 68 sounds like a nod to Momentum, and 2:50 measure 80 sounds like a bit like Swamp Thang, both by Richard Meyer.

[@minefan7]

good ear, although it's probably the other way around Incantations was published in 2004, Momentum in 2008, and Swamp Thang in 2017

[@dawdlinghydra41]

violin chamber orch 1:50 is amazing

[@gracemcnair5712]

Does anyone else think this sounds like the music in The Dragon Prince?

[@bettyoster6916]

what's the dragon prince?

[@CoolNool]

Betty Oster a Netflix show

[@bettyoster6916]

@@CoolNool neat.

[@Myfavoritecuties]

0:25 scary B minor

[@Myfavoritecuties]

Does this piece remind you of a childhood show from the 2000s called BOOHBAH?

[@quirmi_6770]

I wish it ended from 4:17-4:32 like ending the life just as mysterious as it started, just ending with such a calm ending leaves you satisfied but wanting more, a slow fade with a ritardando 👌😔😔

[@maddiesuzanne3601]

That would be cool but like the end is so fun to playyyy

[@quirmi_6770]

@@maddiesuzanne3601 it would be a great juxtaposition but I get what you mean, having it seem like if you didn’t listen to the middle you would think the entire song is slow helps with that mysterious vibe it has

[@trajan_x0128]

3:07 literally nobody wanted a pizz part here

[@ratpatooti]

I want it 😳

[@fernandolevanti5574]

I hated that part🙄

[@brookebaker1347]

i did >:(

[@olukiyesimi]

its sooo much fun but lawd my brain could not wrap its head around it for a minute 💀

[@burnbook3076]

What do you expect when you’re playing a Meyer piece

[@furiousmagician5912]

goes hard

[@magicsquirrel5394]

1:40

[@dianamisamer5531]

Double Bass ?💪

[@bettyoster6916]

I see wut 'chu mean...

[@peanuts.w.]

Richard meyer also made Pablo! Which I was going to play

[@nituspurmhathaikij1559]

My teacher choosing a song for competitions be like:

[@user-gi3if7sw9h]

We played this in chamber orchestra middle school

[@andrew-bg5cb]

I wish my middle school teacher would let us play this but everyone isn’t good enough :(

[@Myfavoritecuties]

Does this piece remind you of a childhood show from the 2000s called BOOHBAH?

[@violaisreallycool]

Anybody know how to stay together in the viola section from 124-135?

[@violaisreallycool]

Just practice dude. METRONOME!

[@cloroi71826]

Outlast vibes

[@gilixyz]

The viola part was NOT easy

[@laithmarji8320]

Why’s that?

[@lolnoo101official6]

I'm so mad, we had it in the bag and then violas rushed and the ending was scuffed

[@julianajordan2660]

Of course it was the violas

[@moonstardust4786]

1:57-2:26 1:11-1:39

[@abrammosher2039]

Bro I am in 7th and just learned how to play this flawlessly (ps. I have been playing since 5th grade)

[@kingofducks3156]

We were gonna play this for a concert Then covid turned its ugly head

[@golddiamond7283]

I feel you bro

[@quirmi_6770]

COVID be like “hehehe NOPE”

[@pinkpanickingpotato]

We were going to play this but then stupid corona hit

[@audreyjones7990]

My school orchestra is playing this this yr and wow we suck it sounds so bad

[@KarkaranosBuilds]

Yeah… I played this for school about a year ago and I still look back and cringe at the recording. It’s so dissonant, we got off-tempo and pur conductor almost had to stop mid-piece. What a great way to open our concert!

[@jacobmathews5012]

Ah

[@nobledragon3875]

Me: I don't understand, this piece is easy(I'm playing it in orchestra right now) Me: Has played Wizards In Winter by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 9th grade. Has played in Area All State. Played most of the Nutcraker pieces. Can play 3rd, 2nd and 1st position with little trouble. Has played Thriller by Michael Jackson in 5th/6th grade Me: l think my level of difficulty is different then most.

[@xaf0163]

NobleDragon nobody cares. good for you, you managed to do something with your life. instead of bragging maybe work on something a little more challenging. i hear shostakovich will do you in fine

[@bettyoster6916]

yeeaaah.....

[@classicalviolinist2325]

Well the first three positions aren't that hard to play in. most of those things are amazing Congrats. Try working on 10th position and Octaves. I'm sure they'll give you a nice challenge. Don't mind me, just a sucky violinist who's been playing for 2 years and doesn't take private lessons.

[@qi2387]

1:50

[@bettyoster6916]

I get it...

[@timothytu7489]

3:10

[@sashasuh9994]

3:28