“La Llorona” is a 6-minute programmatic piece for a high school string orchestra with optional percussion. It tells a story based on a Spanish/Mexican legend of La Malinche, a noble Aztec girl sold into slavery to Mayan merchants. The music starts with an Entrada, signalling the arrival of the Spanish fleet led by Cortés, who colonized Mexico.

La Malinche was a translator and mistress to the conqueror Cortés. She had twin boys with him, but when he was convinced to return to Spain with a Spanish aristocrat, La Malinche realized the hopelessness of her situation and drowned herself and her children in a nearby river.

Two contrasting works with enduring melodies. "Let All Mortal Flesh" is dynamic, from an old French folk song. The "Drunken Sailor" arrangement is a gem, highlighting all sections. A hit with younger musicians!

1. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent

2. Drunken Sailor

For String Orchestra Grade 1.5

arr. Deborah Baker Monday

John Caponegro, Bow-Regards Parade, String Orchestra Grade 1 (Kendor Music)

Scored in D major, this winning march for first-year strings opens and ends with dramatic pyramid entrances from the bottom up -- cellos and basses first, then violas, then 2nd Violins, and finally 1st Violins. Rhythms are simple, bowings are clearly marked, and the optional percussion part for snare drum and bass drum enhances the parade-style theme. Duration 1:40.

Chin, Haydn Symphony No.60 1st Movement
This arrangement for strings is faithful to the original work with the added features of sharing the melodic lines, a slight editing of a few bars of the bass part, a violin 3 part and a keyboard realization. It is also an excellent way to develop Classical style spiccato in more advanced players.