This chart contains 87 tunings (47 for guitar) for various common and hard to find instruments. The accompanying CD has all the tunings played on the actual instruments. Many tunings are offered for most instruments. Instrumentsinclude guitar mandolin banjo dulcimer bass harp guitar balalaika oud charrango bouzouki tres ukulele bajo sexto dobro/lap steel vihuela and requinto. Included are the most common tunings as well as many exotictunings especially for guitar.

Written based on a poem of the same title by Octavio Paz A Boy and a Girl is Whitacre at his finest with the composer himself describing four measures as 'the truest notes I've ever written'.Stretched out on the grassa boy and agirl.Savoring their oranges giving their kisses like waves exchanging foam.Stretched out on the beach a boy and a girl.Savoring their limes giving their kisses like clouds exchangingfoam.Stretched out underground a boy and a girl.Saying nothing never kissing giving silence for silence.    Octavio Paz 1914-1998

The perfect technical piece for developing tone, listening skills, string crossings, smooth bow changes, and independence - as well as celebrating beautiful days at a park as melodies and dynamics move up and down between sections, as on a seesaw. The lines of music that the various instruments have weave up and down across each other as friendships weave throughout our lives. Imagine a leisurely day at the park, perhaps on a seesaw, and ponder this poem by the composer, Steven H. Brook. While pleasant breezes grace the sky, and clouds of joy drift gently by, our friendship bonds, we learn to play---and now, with you, we share today. (2:00) / Orchestre A Cordes

Commissioned by the Scottish Ensemble first performed on 15th December 2008 at Queen’s Cross Church Aberdeen. Programme note   'This short work is about conflict – expressed here by the clash of opposing musical forces. One ‘force’ an ‘arioso’ is based around the harmonic field of E and is  melodic tonal straightforward and at times emotional. It is mainly led by the first  violin. The other ‘force’ led by the double bass is strongly discordant [at first a  single note F latergradually growing to a giant cluster]. It is essentially chordal  [non-melodic] static suffocating inexorable and impersonal. Its only contrast is  getting louder or getting softer getting denser or less dense. The interruption of the opening ‘arioso’ by a single note F on the double bass is at first not very threatening and the reaction to it is one of surprise. Later as the threat increases so the reaction becomes stronger; at first one of irritation then anger. A passionate outburst on the violins follows which falls on deaf ears. Then a solo violin solo viola and solo cello all appeal in turn: still no response. Finally only fragments of the original ‘arioso’ are heard before dying away. Whereas near the

A modern, joyful piece by Doug Spata that uses only the notes of the D major scale on the D and A strings with quarter and eighth notes, this piece is a great way for beginners to proudly demonstrate their bowing and ensemble playing skills! Each section gets a turn playing both the carefree melodies and sparkling accompaniments. (2:00) / Orchestre A Cordes

This beautiful lyrical work is easy enough for an advanced middle school orchestra yet sophisticated enough for any high school group. The long flowing melodic shapes and louré bowing give the orchestra a chance to show off their legato phrasing. (4:00) / Orchestre A Cordes