Abstract:
To understand the basic idea of the Creative Project it is necessary to define the term String Ensemble. Ensemble is a French word that means "put together." Thus the term string ensemble could be defined as string instruments put together.The string instruments used in the Creative Project were the family of bowed instruments: violin, viola, cello, and string bass. The size of the ensemble was decided taking into consideration the number of string players available at the Ball State University School of Music. As a result, the group was a chamber string orchestra of twenty players.The reasons for organizing such an ensemble at Ball State University were many. One reason is exposure to repertoire heretofore untouched by the Ball State Symphony Orchestra which dwells primarily with Romantic pieces. The styles of Classical and Baroque are basically string oriented, therefore not played by the University Orchestra. The Romantic pieces should be known and played by the students, but some of the pieces are very difficult when used as material for teaching at the secondary level. Although the School of Music had a Symphony Orchestra, bands, and a variety of ensembles, there was no String Ensemble. There had been succesful attempts in the past and these encouraged tip- writer to undertake the enterprise. In this paper the writer will describe the organization and development of the group, analyze two of the pieces played in public by the ensemble, and draw some conclusions about the results of the venture.