"Wipe Out" is a rock and roll tune from the 1960's about surfing, performed and made popular by the group, The Surfaris. The term "wipe out" refers to getting knocked off one's surfboard by a wave instead of having a successful ride. The entire piece should be played off the string and at the frog for best energy and most authentic rock sound. The only exceptions to this are the glissandi which appear in several of the parts and the final two bars where a lot of bow should be used by violins and violas for the improvisation on the blues scale. It is especially important that the "chop" parts (off-beat accompaniment figures) in the second violin, third violin and viola parts at Letter C are percussive, off the string and at the frog. From Letter C to the final two bars, cellos and basses should be divided half playing arco and half pizz for best effect. Though this is a popular tune, it is also a wonderful teaching piece for off-string bowing and chromatic fingering. Remind violin and viola students to k

Performed by the American Festival Philharmonic,
Robert W. Smith, Conductor