

Beijing's summer gardens are a wondrous place for a nocturnal stroll. "Jasmine Nights" and "Dragon Fire" are two musical pieces that capture the essence of the city's beauty and excitement.
1. Jasmine Nights
2. Dragon Fire
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5
Beijing is a city that truly comes alive in the summer, with its many gardens offering a peaceful escape from the bustling streets. As the sun sets, the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of jasmine, creating a magical atmosphere for a nocturnal stroll.
The musical piece "Jasmine Nights" is a beautiful composition that captures the essence of this experience. It uses the pentatonic scale, a traditional Chinese musical scale, to create a soothing and calming effect. The gentle dissonances and tone clusters add a touch of complexity to the piece, making it a delight for the ears.
As the night progresses, the city comes alive with the sounds of celebration. "Dragon Fire" is a dynamic musical piece that captures the excitement and wonderment of a Chinese New Year festival. The music is full of energy and passion, with the pounding of drums and the clash of cymbals creating a sense of anticipation and excitement. It's a piece that truly captures the spirit of Beijing and its vibrant culture.
1. Jasmine Nights
2. Dragon Fire
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5
Introduce your students to Russian classical music with "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky. "Promenade" links various pieces, while "Danse Caracteristique" features harmonics, syncopated accompaniments, and chromatic scales.
1. Promenade (Mussorgsky)
2. Dance Caracteristique (Rebikov)
For String Orchestra level 2.5
A thrilling adventure with spies, detectives, and super sleuths trying to stop world domination. The catchy tune and unique harmonies will delight students. The piece features pizzicato, harmonics, and string crossing. Structured in rondo form, each section of the orchestra makes an appearance.
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5
This piece gradually expands harmony from a unison note, highlighting interesting texture. Younger musicians learn dissonance through gentle tonal clashes, while elementary players explore different bow speeds and lengths. It's a great introduction to the power of a string orchestra.
For String Orchestra Grade 1
Mozart composed over 30 violin sonatas during his lifetime. Among these works, only one sonata stands out for being entirely in a minor key. This particular sonata is known for its dark, brooding and energetic nature. It also features spiccato and martele articulations, which were crucial to the Classical style of music. This piece is appropriate for Grade 4 string orchestras.
Handel's famous works, "Largo" and "Hallelujah Chorus," are presented together. "Largo" explores Baroque arioso sonorities, while the Hallelujah Chorus is the most renowned chorus ever written. All parts have been adapted to retain the original antiphonal effect between the chorus and orchestra.
1. Largo
2. Halleluja Chorus
For Grade 3.5 String Orchestra
After the snowy start, climbers get to work. The fast melody depicts their chiselling on an icy rock face. A calm middle section shows the view from the top before the chiselling continues down. Younger players will love this energetic piece with catchy tunes and strong harmonies.
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5