Folk Music for String Orchestra

Just off the coast of Wales, the Isle of Anglesey features a large seaport bringing passengers to and from Ireland. Bridging the waters between these beautiful lands, this charming arrangement for

This setting of The Skye Boat Song recalls the strength and honor of Scottish highland culture. Lush scoring, warm harmonies, and tuneful melodies make this a perfect lyrical selection for

From the gentle beginning to the triumphant and powerful climax, this enduring arrangement allows students to study expression to the fullest. A beautiful way to move your audience and deliver the universal

Inspired by the joyous optimism of the Kenyan people, this energetic greeting prelude for string orchestra will delight performers and audiences alike with its rhythmic drive and call-and-response echoes.

Here is a very beautiful setting of the traditional Chinese folk song Molihua. This tune is a vital part of Chinese New Year celebrations and was featured at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The soothing

This pretty crossover waltz will feel equally at home in fiddle and classical settings. The ornaments are easy and authentic for all sections as they share the melody, while remaining in first position. A

Students will love to play this extremely popular Irish reel that has been heard in movies and television. It infuses a nice, lyrical middle section giving the piece some much-needed repose before firing up

This arrangement of the popular Hawaiian folk song evokes the vibrant "singing snails" (kahuli) depicted in the song lyric. Young musicians and their audiences will sense a deep connection and respect for

This classic Russian folk dance in the traditional bottle dance format is carefully crafted for developing string ensemble. A terrific opportunity to teach and perform music, style and tradition from

A lively folk dance arranged for young orchestra musicians. The main theme is based on the eastern Kentucky folk tune Old Joe Clark, a song about a 19th-century Kentucky mountaineer, in an

This best-known Korean folk song takes on a new life in this delightful work! Based on the pentatonic scale, the melody is taken through a series of beautiful, reflective and triumphal variations. It will

Suitable for year two of study, this lovely pentatonic melody is harmonized in fourths, fifths, and sixths. A few dotted rhythms may require attention, but the focus will be on beautiful tone and developing

Arranger Frank J. Halferty has taken this energetic melody and added easy fiddle-style touches, pizzicato, open string ostinatos and some fun bass lines.

La culebra is a traditional Mexican folk dance that depicts a story of a group of men working in the fields. As they are working, their wives are on their way to the fields to pay a visit. On their

This arrangement combines two traditional mariachi tunes, Ala en el Rancho Grande and La Adelita, with a new original: Polka de San Antonio to form a fabulous medley for

In the style of a habanera, the characteristic and distinct rhythm reflects the fusion of Cuban and Spanish cultures. Many sections of your string orchestra get a chance to play the memorable melody from

Written as a tribute to Valentina Ramirez Avitia, who fought in the Mexican Revolution at a time when women were not allowed in the Mexican military, this folk song tat is played by many mariachi groups in

Lament for Youth is a beautiful Irish arrangement by J.F. Larchet. The piece starts with a slow air entitled My Gentle Harp followed by a lively dance tune, The Galway Reel. These two

For a special touch at your next concert, feature one of Canada's most popular folk songs. It's often sung around campfires and makes a perfect cross-cultural study.