The Dark Web

The Dark Web spins a mischievous musical tale, transforming The Itsy Bitsy Spider into a shadowy minor-key adventure. Creeping with suspense and surprise, this clever piece also weaves in the quotes from The Ants Go Marching In as ants scramble to escape the web! With a strong focus on G-string note reading and playful features like tremolo and glissandi, this piece will make for a memorable performance!

About this Piece:

One of my original goals with this piece was to write an enjoyable tune for all instruments to reinforce G-String note reading. Much of the melodic material gets passed around through the orchestra. This is designed as a manageable way to achieve part independence for students; rehearsing the same/similar melodic material in different contexts.

Encourage cellists to anchor 1st and 3rd fingers through the opening ostinato and have them tunnel open D when the harmony changes. The "alla marcia" notation indicates that most of the piece is a march that should be played marcato with the exception of the "cantabile" marking. The "feroce" should still be marcato, but with even more vigor in the bow.

- Vince Huzicka

Educational Features:

G string note reading reinforcement

Familiar tunes

Simple rhythms

Introduction to open harmonics and glissandi

Bow stylistic contrast (legato, marcato, slurs, tremolo)

Stylistic expressions (marcia, cantabile, feroce)

Manageable part independence