Original Concert Works for String Orchestra

As ancient voices recall tales of forgotten glory, a sacred moment of reflection gives way to a stormy battle in the cello and bass sections and builds to a victorious key change to A minor. With just a

The title says it all - driving eighth notes, tense melodies, and sudden impacts will have your ensemble and audience believing they are in the middle of an intense and fierce blizzard. All sections have

Tell the mischievous tale of La Bruja (the witch) in this wonderful arrangement. A favorite with mariachi groups due to its hauntingly beautiful melody, this is the perfect introduction to folk

Return to ancient Rome and the revolt of Spartacus! The opening signifies the harsh life of a gladiator, while a fast, energetic section pays homage to his brilliance as a military tactician. Explosive

Many fictional works portray the moon as a living being, alone in space while looking at the Earth. This lullaby honors this "living moon," portraying various emotions including the loneliness of watching

Inspired by pure joy, this work explores uplifting and lighthearted emotions. The music has a constant rhythmic pulse that gently interacts with graceful melodic lines and countermelodies. Engaging

This captivating work is a set of variations on the Pong Lang Dance, one of Thailand's most popular melodies. The pong lang is like a xylophone with its wooden keys suspended vertically on

A beautiful, joyous melody and driving rhythms create a message of hope in this uplifting original work. Perfect for a developed middle school or high school string orchestra, this piece features simple

This exquisite lyrical work in D minor will evoke images of the beauty of a cold winter landscape with lush harmonies, beautiful melodies, and pleasing counterlines. The piano part is a gorgeous part of the

This gorgeous fantasy is based on the well-known Hawaiian song Aloha 'Oe, written by Queen Lili'uokalani. Translated as "Farewell to Thee," it works extremely well both as a lyrical portion of a

A celebratory and extremely versatile work, the majestic lines sweep throughout the ensemble amid a backdrop of pulsating rhythms. Perform it with your developing ensemble alone, or add the more accessible

A beautifully heartfelt work for young musicians, with lush harmonies and suspensions that will stretch the musicianship of the performers. A thoughtful, meditative work, perfect for your concert

Here is a work of simplicity and beauty with some contemporary harmonies. Recorded by Michigan State University Orchestra on the CD Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra, Volume 1 -

A loving portrait of life growing up in the pastoral foothills of Northern California, Colors of Home conveys a warm Americana feeling, featuring beautifully nuanced melodic themes and carefully

The title refers to the "three M's" - minor, meter, and mix - and is a dynamic piece for teaching and performing. This impressive teaching piece features a mixture of the melodic and harmonic minor forms as

Known for his thousands of film, radio, and symphonic arrangements, prolific composer Norman Leyden published this suite for string orchestra in 1971. The four brief, contrasting movements blend

In this multi-level arrangement for string or full orchestra, both new and experienced students get to enjoy the excitement of Offenbach's famous dance. The piece can be performed with strings only, with