A Forgotten Fairytale

Edward MacDowell, one of America’s most significant Romantic-era composers, had a masterful ability to evoke images and tell stories through musical miniatures. His piano suite Forgotten Fairytales (1897), composed of several short, highly expressive movements, captures the whimsical, often melancholic spirit of childhood memories. This arrangement of the first movement, retitled A Forgotten Fairytale, translates MacDowell’s delicate, intimate piano texture into the warm, unified sound of the string orchestra. The arranger took great care to adhere closely to the harmonic richness and subtle dynamic shifts of the original score, ensuring the characteristic flow and dreamy quality of MacDowell's writing are fully preserved. The strings allow the simple melody to soar and the inner voices to intertwine with new clarity and expressive depth. The First Violin part features optional higher passages that allow students comfortable with advanced technique and shifting to explore the instrument's upper register. Additionally, the Cello section is highlighted with a lovely soli moment, showcasing the rich, singing quality of the lower strings. The resulting piece is a charming and wistful glimpse into a long-lost story, perfectly suited for the intermediate string orchestra setting.