"Two pieces, one idea: work hard, play hard. "The Volga Boatmen" has a shared melody and well-crafted counter-melodies. "Two Guitars" is fun and infectious, exploring spiccato quavers."
1. The Volga Boatmen
2. Two Guitars
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5
When these two pieces are played together, they create a vivid image of the concept of balancing hard work and play. "The Volga Boatmen" showcases a beautiful shared melody that is accompanied by skillfully crafted counter-melodies, creating a rich and harmonious sound. Meanwhile, "Two Guitars" is a lively and playful piece that captures the listener's attention with its infectious rhythm and explores the technical challenges of playing spiccato quavers. Overall, these two pieces are a perfect combination of hard work and fun, showcasing the beauty and complexity of music.
1. The Volga Boatmen
2. Two Guitars
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5
This music piece is based on an old English hymn that depicts a journey to hope, titled To the Palace of Light. It has a solemn beginning, turbulent middle, and faster, jig-like ending. Elements of the hymn can be heard throughout, making it a great choice to end a concert or festival.
For double string orchestra, grades 2 & 4
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.”
No need to wait years to perform Grieg's "Holberg Suite" with your ensemble. This arrangement is true to the original but with less tricky figurations. It features off-string work, trills, accented quavers, light legato bowing, martele and pizzicato to make the performance sparkle!
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5
"Arctic Fire" is a mesmerising composition that takes the listener on a journey of tonal surprises. The sound of the first violin harmonics is piercing and ethereal, evoking the image of blowing ice in a desolate Arctic landscape. The piece features effective textures and shifts in melody, with even the bass having a significant solo. It's a powerful composition that inspires musicians to let their imaginations soar.
For String Orchestra Grade 3
Debussy was inspired by mysticism and exotic items. He combined Gregorian chant with Eastern influences in "Funeral Urn" and showcased his unique style with "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair". Students will enjoy the challenging rhythms and harmonies in these works.
1. Funeral Urn
2. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
For String Orchestra Grade 4
This nautical-themed piece starts with violas and cellos evoking the swell of waves. The seconds create sea breeze sounds; the first violin plays the main theme energetically. Everyone gets a chance to participate, and the middle section featuring cellos is eerie. The suspenseful wait for the sea breezes to pick up again adds to the effect, and the piece ends with a fun and lively section.
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5
Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco and Antonio Vivaldi lived during the same era. Dall'Abaco's piece features an opening Prelude and a Ciaconna that includes variations on a fixed bass. This Baroque piece introduces players to various musical textures.
For String Orchestra Grade 3
