Experience a captivating musical journey to Kyoto with “Two Silk Screens from Kyoto” by Stephen Chin. This evocative string orchestra piece beautifully reflects Japanese culture through graceful melodies and intricate harmonies. Immerse yourself in its meditative ambiance, as the strings evoke vivid images of cherry blossoms and serene landscapes.

Stephen Chin: “These two pieces were inspired by my visit to Japan. They capture memories of the country's beauty, contrasting the elegance of cranes by a lake with the dynamic movements of samurai. I frequently used the Japanese scale, Hirajōshi, along with other pentatonic scales throughout the set.”

Nicolo Paganini was an exceptional violinist, and this particular piece is the final one in a series of caprices that represent the pinnacle of violin technique. It has inspired other great composers such as Rachmaninov. This arrangement preserves the melody, harmony, and structure, allowing players of all levels to experience and appreciate the beauty of Paganini's work.

For String Orchestra Grade 3.5

Ideal for a festival orchestra with players at different levels, this piece is based on the medieval melody "L'Homme Arme", depicting a sword-wielding warrior. The middle section features a violin solo as a lullaby reflecting the armed man's war experiences. The final section celebrates the armed man walking in the light of peace and liberty with the South African song "Simbayama".

For 4 string orchestras and untuned percussion - Grade 3.5, 2, 1.5 & 1

This suite of three contrasting movements is perfect for young string players. It includes fun techniques like tremolo, pizzicato, harmonics, tapping, and even screaming. Bumps in the Dark is thrilling, Far Away Dreams is gentle and thoughtful, and Shooting Stars is exciting. The suite encourages active listening within the ensemble.

Listen to #1 – Bumps in the Dark

Listen to #2 – Far Away Dreams

Listen to #3 – Shooting Stars

Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel is a beautiful piece for string orchestra. This arrangement includes optional adaptations to suit different instruments and grade levels. A universally cherished work, now more inclusive!

We all love our pets, and each day brings new adventures! “Presto Puppies” features rising scale patterns and surprising dissonances, while “Cantabile Kitties” captures the subdued essence of our feline friends with major seventh intervals that evoke a kitten yawning. “Con Brio Birdies” portrays birds’ chatter through repeated quavers and gentle dissonances. The suite also showcases various techniques, including harmonics and different pizzicato styles.

Hand-picking cotton is a gruelling task. 19th-century rural Americans sang to support each other. This piece starts with different players for each bar, evoking the image. The "Praising Song" celebrates the end of a tough day. An elementary ensemble will shine playing the double quavers, pizzicati, and syncopated beats.

1. Cottonfield Calls

2. Praising Song

For String Orchestra Grade 1

Two Italian Baroque masterpieces in contrast - Sarabande and Gigue. Simple melody with suspensions in Sarabande, orchestra showcases string crossings and quaver figuration in Gigue.

For String Orchestra Grade 2.5