Folk Music for String Orchestra

This melancholy ballad set in E minor is reminiscent of early Australian bush music, based on Irish folk tradition. It uses dotted rhythms and requires careful counting of rests. The piano part is optional,

Your students will find this popular folk song fun to learn and play. The contrasts in dynamics and pizzicato will keep players interested in rehearsal. Even the cellos and basses get to play the

Beautiful, nostalgic, and lush, this intimate arrangement of a traditional Irish tune is an excellent tool for teaching phrasing and legato playing.

A wonderful adaptation of the traditional Celtic folk songs The Parting Glass and Tha Mi Sigth (A Fairy's Love Song) for young string orchestra and optional percussion.

This moving piece is filled to the brim with poignant and ravishing melodies. The haunting main theme comes back in various guises and returns with great effect towards the end of the piece. Everybody will

Get ready to jig with this medley of two old Irish folk songs. Father O'Flynn's and The Gobby O are bright and jaunty and sure to get toes a-tappin'.

Two beautiful folk melodies in the graceful style of Celtic music. Including Bonnie Doon and The Minstrel Boy, contrasts between the movements make this an interesting concert and festival

Combining two well-known African-American spirituals (Chatter with the Angels and All Night, All Day), this arrangement offers the opportunity to swing or play straight eighth notes. Students will perform

A country-dance tune from Playford's English Dancing Master, this is an excellent introduction to simple cut time. The work contains only a few dotted-note rhythms and has interesting parts for all

Originally set for vocal ensemble, three songs from "A Set of Chinese Folk Songs" have been thoughtfully arranged into a three-movement suite for intermediate string orchestra, bringing this beautiful

This arrangement of lovely ballads, vigorous fiddle songs, and simple shape-note tunes is deeply rooted in early-American folk traditions. The three Christmas tunes, The Babe of Bethlehem;

This may be the quintessential arrangement of this popular tune for string orchestra. In his first published string work, Vargas has given all parts interesting material in a quasi-contrapuntal sound