This spirited Allegro comes from the overture to Handel's 1738 opera "Serse" (Xerxes). Transposed to D major, this approachable arrangement provides students the opportunity to explore basic

A musical description of four of the wonders of the ancient world: the grandeur of the Temple of Artemis located in Ephesus (present-day Turkey); the majesty of the Great Lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt;

The yearning, Irish-inspired melodies in A Ballad of Inis Mor (pronounced IN-ish more) evoke a sense of quiet reflection. The poignant theme begins in the cello section, rising

This short three-movement suite is a fresh addition to string orchestra repertoire. Though all original works, the folk-like melodies provide ample opportunity to explore suite form and the idiomatic style

Unique harmonic ideas and use of ensemble color are on display in this work for developing ensembles. Explore a dark frontier while reinforcing articulations and dynamic contrast.

This racing, rhythmic string orchestra composition will give your young ensemble a mature sound. Appropriate for developing students, the melodic material is presented in all sections of the

A delightful musical visit to an imaginary pond. In creating this "amphibious" work, the composer used melodic intervals to depict leaping frogs, trills to represent buzzing insects, and the percussive frog

This work for strings and piano opens with a haunting chord progression. A melancholic melody in the violins moves to the cellos before gradually fading back to the opening theme. Develop your students'

Ironwork alludes to both the heavy metal music genre and the art of blacksmithing, an ancient craft from prehistoric times. The opening unison riff is a great exercise in the Locrian mode, and the

Here is an appealing string arrangement of one of Gioachino Rossini's famous overtures. Careful scoring and performance options make this approachable yet appropriately challenging. Rossini's lighthearted

This outstanding pair of contrasting movements shifts from a plaintive Larghetto to a joyful Allegro. An exceptional opportunity to work on the music of Handel while providing a wealth of

An exciting piece for beginners that portrays the shaking of the surface or interior of the planet Mars, as recently recorded by NASA. The piece uses an intense minor melody and introduces tremolo technique

Hauntingly beautiful, soaring melodies are passed to all players, featuring the violas prominently. Solos for all sections make this a great teaching piece for the developing string ensemble, with a rubato

This arrangement embodies the full sound and spirit of the original overture yet is orchestrated to take full advantage of the string orchestra palette. A fabulous choice as an opener, closer, or

In the late summer months, the Scottish countryside is covered by heather. Purple in color, the flower makes the otherwise harsh landscape a place of tranquil beauty. This adaptation of the Scottish folk

This classic work was extracted from a larger scored work that Joseph Haydn wrote while in the service of Prince Nicholas Esterhazy. The original work excludes the original wind parts, and playing the

This expressive work aims to encapsulate the essence of serenity through its calm, moderate tempo and simple rhythms. The interplay between sweeping melodic lines and beautiful harmonic language provides

A relentless 6/8 accompaniment drives this piece forward with exciting momentum. Intensity builds like the first piercing light on the morning horizon, flourishing toward a stately middle section that

This fantastic suite of themes from the popular opera "Carmen" includes the opening Bugle Call and March of the Dragoons, the famous Habanera, the entr'acte to Act III

Reminiscent of film scores of old, this wonderfully expressive work contains a lot of teachable material and passionate melodies to inspire your students and audiences.

Feature every section of your orchestra in this swashbuckling piece! Three distinct "pirate" themes are given to the violins, violas, and cellos/basses to allow all players a chance to shine. All melodies

Take flight through the soaring melodic lines of this bold work that lets your students' imaginations run wild. Whether on the back of a hawk or on a journey to space, this energetic piece keeps all