

The Abandoned Funhouse by Brian Balmages Written for the true beginner, this piece takes the listener on an eerie tour that can best be described as an unsettling experience with a touch of curiosity and anxiousness. Piano and optional celesta (playable on a keyboard) create a haunting background reminiscent of a film score. Instruments move mostly by stepwise motion and all string crossings involve an open string. No eighth notes are used, and many instruments use only 5 or 6 notes (while violin 1 uses a one octave D Major scale). Highly playable and extremely engaging! (Approximately 2 minutes duration)
Electric Sinfonia for String Orchestra (Grade 2.5) by Lauren Bernofsky
| Composer | Brian Balmages |
|---|---|
| Publisher | FJH Music Company |
| Series | FJH String Orchestra |
| Stock Code | ST6474 |
This cleverly titled work includes three famous themes from The Planets. The swooping and fluttering sounds of Mercury, the Winged Messenger give way to the mystical tone clusters and serenity of Venus, the Bringer of Peace. The arrangement closes with the iconic militant ostinato and extreme dissonance of Mars, the Bringer of War. An exceptional arrangement. (4:30)
Silent Night for String Orchestra (Arr. by Eric Morales, Grade 4)