Par RODGERS / HAMMERSTEIN. These stringsets arrange seven classic melodies from 'The King and I' and 'South Pacific' for intermediate string ensemble. The arrangements are relatively straightforward, great fun to play and will make the perfect programme for the end of term concert./ Répertoire / Set de Cordes

Written to celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Joliet Township High School Orchestras of Illinois, 'Stone and Steel' is a modern concert overture by Richard Meyer that treats the listener and performer to a myriad of styles and moods. The piece begins with a heavy, ponderous theme marked 'Molto pesante,' which depicts the limestone quarries that first earned Joliet the nickname 'City of Stone' in the early 1800s. The mood soon changes and we can visualize huge barges laden down with stone, making their way through the city's large lift bridges and into the famous Illinois and Michigan Canal on their way to regional customers. With the construction of a steel mill in 1869, Joliet became known as the 'City of Steel.' Stone and steel were now shipped by both canal and railroad, and this exciting new age is represented by a modern, fast-moving theme in a bright major key. The two themes, 'stone' and 'steel,' are then further developed, and the piece culminates in a majestic, celebratory final statement of the 'steel' theme. (6:00) / Orchestre A Cordes

Par DAY SUSAN H.. On the Open Seas is an exciting new sea chantey by Susan H. Day. Written because sea-faring voyagers are always looking for their next adventure on the open seas! This piece is written in E minor, 4/4 time, and features a spirited, memorable melody, detache bowing, easy rhythms, accents, pizzicato, and fun for all! Bass and cello double, and viola rhythms double 2nd violin rhythms throughout for ease of teaching. Optional piano adds harmonic color. Perfect for any concert occasion, students and teachers will want to keep performing this one! (2:00) / Date parution : 2022-10-12/ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes

Par STILES SARAH. Impro, an exciting new introduction to improvisation in string playing, is suited to absolute beginners as well as more advanced players. It can be combined with regular teaching methods or used as a source of relaxation and fun in lessons, and all the material is interchangeable between violin, viola, cello and double bass. The skills of free improvisation are built up in stages, using basic ideas and progressing to more complex patterns. There are guidelines all the way, plus duets with improvisation for teacher and pupil - and any other string players wishing to enjoy this lively and original style of music-making! A teacher working in Holland, Sarah Stiles leadsworkshops in her method of Free Improvisation, and is also the composer of the unique Dual Band, nine violin duos with improvisation./ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes

For a special touch at your next concert, feature one of Canada's most popular folk songs. Often sung to keep time while canoeing or around campfires, the lyrics are originally from a 19th century poem by First Nations poet Pauline Johnson, making this perfect for cross-cultural study. Although this work can easily be performed with strings alone, percussion instruments, including timpani and bells, expand the palette of colors, helping to create a rich tapestry for your listeners. (2:45) / Orchestre A Cordes

Par BERNOTAS CHRIS. If there is one thing music educators are it is resilient! Resilience, by Chris M. Bernotas, is dedicated to all music educators in recognition of how they always adapt to the unknown and rise to every challenge. This overture is the perfect concert opener for your first-year string orchestra. Using only the notes in the key of D, and melodic parts for all, every student will shine. Violin 2 and Viola are doubled, as are Cello and String Bass, making it very flexible and perfect for any mix of instruments. Correlated to Sound Innovations, Book 2, Level 2. (1:40) / Date parution : 2022-10-12/ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes

Note by the composer:'Triple Quartet is for string quartet and two pre-recorded quartets, or three live string quartets with no pre-recording. The piece is in three movements, fast-slow-fast, and is organized harmonically on four dominant chords in minor keys a minor third apart: E minor, G minor, Bb minor, C# minor and then returning to E minor to form a cycle.The first movement goes through this harmonic cycle twice with a section about one minute long on each of the four dominat chords. The result is a kind of variation form. Rhythmically the first movement has the second and third quartet playing interlocking chords while the first quartet plays longer melodies in canon between the first violin and viola against the second violin and cello. The slow movement is more completely contrapuntal with a long slow melody in canon eventually in all 12 voices. It stays in E minor throughout. The third movement resumes the original fast tempo, maintains the harmonic chord cycle but modulates back and forth between keys more rapidly. The final section of the movement is in the initial key of E minor and there the piece finally cadences.? Steve Reich, 1999 / Orchestre A Cordes

Your orchestra will have a blast working on this fun selection that introduces the time periods of music and the playing styles that go with them. As students climb aboard the time machine, they will 'travel' far and wide! (3:30) / Orchestre A Cordes

This work features all of your school district's string orchestras at once and was written to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Freeport, Illinois orchestra program. The piece combines elementary, middle school, and high school string orchestras each playing age-appropriate material, making for the perfect closer to an 'All-City,' multi-level concert. During the course of this energetic rondo, each group is featured on their own melody. As the piece unfolds, the melodies are creatively combined, keeping all the players 'on their toes' and active at all times. Grade levels for the three groups are: Elementary - Grade 1.5 - Middle school - Grade 2.5 - High school - Grade 3.5. (4:45) / Orchestre A Cordes

Dvorak's Serenade in E major for string orchestra is one of his most popular and frequently played works. It was written in the spring of 1875, when he had just experienced his first successes at the conductor's podium and had received a state arts scholarship. The score and parts were published by Bote and Bock, Berlin, in 1879. This Urtext edition is based on the composer's autograph score. It corrects mistakes found in the first edition and so, for the first time, the editor incorporates omitted passages from the autograph, marking them with Vi-de. This reconstruction makes it possible to clarify the piece's structure. The author of the Foreword, Katerina Nova, is head of the Dvorak Museum in Prague. / Violoncelle

Imagine four soloists playing eight Boomwhackers on the heads of eight brave audience members while being accompanied by string orchestra. That's the scenario of this hilarious show-stopper. Your audience will love hearing 'Jingle Bells,' 'Good King Wenceslas,' and 'Deck the Halls' like never before. Used by the composer with his own orchestra and guest teachers, this simple yet highly effective novelty number never fails! Complete staging instructions are included. (2:00) Correlates to String Explorer Book 1, Unit 13. / Orchestre A Cordes

This easy arrangement of the famous gondola boat song from Offenbach's 1881 opera The Tales of Hoffman is the perfect way to strengthen your young orchestra's legato playing skills. Slurs, crescendos, diminuendos, and a 3/4 time signature all add to the learning opportunities in this selection, making it a great 'change of pace' piece for contest, festival, or any concert. (2:10) Correlates to String Explorer Book 1, Unit 12. / Orchestre A Cordes

Par SPATA DOUG. Beginning string students will have a diabolically good time with this all-pizzicato selection. Gleefully sinister melodies pass between all sections and simple quarter and half note accompaniment parts help keep everyone together. The optional piano accompaniment sets the pace with even 8th notes, helping young players subdivide their rhythms. Part independence and note range are minimized while doubling and repetition are emphasized, making this an easy piece for kids to master. Midnight Mischief by Doug Spata is a fun piece that kids will love to play while supporting essential ensemble playing and listening skills. (2:05). / Date parution : 2022-10-12/ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes