The Great Western is as title suggests, an evocation of trains. It is another fun piece, with much emphasis on triplets and chromatics: Music Teacher Magazine / Ensemble A Cordes

The composer writes:Pilgrim was inspired it will be no surprise to learn by reading Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - Vaughan Williams's great opera on the subject had fascinated me from its first performance yet it was a long time before I caught up with this essential item in any well-stocked library of English classics. It made a great impression not least because of its theme of a journey of self-discovery and a rediscovery or renewal of faith. These are ideas which have a strong interest for me not in religious terms but in their application to every aspect of human life (including great journeys) and this piece reflects my response in musical terms to this concern. The tempo of the whole piece which lasts about 18 minutes is basically slow. There are two quick episodes but these act somewhat like the trio sections of a classical scherzo save that the tempo relationships are inverted (the classical trios would have been slower not quicker) and the canvas is much larger being that of a single substantial slow movement. The form of the whole is perhaps fantasia-like rather than having any relationship to classical forms such as sonata or rondo - some motifs and themes are varied as the work develops and the opening chords are of primary importance throughout the work. There has been no attempt to convey any pictorial elements deriving from Bunyan's great book. There is however one feature which upon completion of the score struck me with some force which is that almost all the thematic material is essentially striving upwards - there is a constant upward movement (sometimes over a lengthy period) throughout the work. Pilgrim was commissioned by the Luton Music Club for the Raphael Ensemble with funds provided by the Eastern Arts Board and Bedfordshire County Council and is dedicated to the Luton Music Club. The first performance was given in Luton on February 10th 1997 and followed as part of a joint scheme by performances in the same week at the Music Clubs of Bedford and Leighton Buzzard.

Of all his early chamber works the Nocturne is most clearly by the mature Vaughan Williams almost anticipating the influence of Ravel which followed his lessons from the French composer in 1908. In the veiled beauty of its highly chromatic harmonies we hear already the tone-poet of the slow movement of A London Symphony while in the fleet-footed Scherzo there is already a French influence in the way the folk-song is subtly woven into the texture only brief snatches of the tune being heard until the penultimate page when it receives fuller treatment. The work plays for about 10 minutes. The 1904 Scherzo is a vigorous march with fugal episodes whichlasts some 6 minutes and may effectively be performed by itself.

The composer writes:Pilgrim was inspired it will be no surprise to learn by reading Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - Vaughan Williams's great opera on the subject had fascinated me from its first performance yet it was a long time before I caught up with this essential item in any well-stocked library of English classics. It made a great impression not least because of its theme of a journey of self-discovery and a rediscovery or renewal of faith. These are ideas which have a strong interest for me not in religious terms but in their application to every aspect of human life (including great journeys) and this piece reflects my response in musical terms to this concern. The tempo of the whole piece which lasts about 18 minutes is basically slow. There are two quick episodes but these act somewhat like the trio sections of a classical scherzo save that the tempo relationships are inverted (the classical trios would have been slower not quicker) and the canvas is much larger being that of a single substantial slow movement. The form of the whole is perhaps fantasia-like rather than having any relationship to classical forms such as sonata or rondo - some motifs and themes are varied as the work develops and the opening chords are of primary importance throughout the work. There has been no attempt to convey any pictorial elements deriving from Bunyan's great book. There is however one feature which upon completion of the score struck me with some force which is that almost all the thematic material is essentially striving upwards - there is a constant upward movement (sometimes over a lengthy period) throughout the work. Pilgrim was commissioned by the Luton Music Club for the Raphael Ensemble with funds provided by the Eastern Arts Board and Bedfordshire County Council and is dedicated to the Luton Music Club. The first performance was given in Luton on February 10th 1997 and followed as part of a joint scheme by performances in the same week at the Music Clubs of Bedford and Leighton Buzzard.

One of Tavener's most famous works The Protecting Veil for solo cello and string orchestra was commissioned by the BBC for the 1989 series of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. The first performance was given in September 1989at the Royal Albert Hall London by Steven Isserlis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Oliver Knussen.Study Score. Duration c. 42mins.

Bryce Dessner's Réponse Lutos awski was c o-commissioned by the National Audiovisual Institute of Poland and the Mexico National Orchestraand first performed by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra at Teatr Wielki-Polish National Opera in Warsaw Poland on November 29 2014. Composer's Note: Réponse Lutos awski was written as an homage to Witold Lutos awski’s amazing composition for string orchestra Musique funèbre. I spent months studying the score and recordings of the work as well as many of his other pieces. This was an amazingprocess of discovering one of the 20th-centuries great musical minds and allowing his adventurous spirit to influence my own musical decisions. My Réponse Lutos awski is written in five movements each of which isinspired either directly or indirectly by the Lutos awski score. I like to think that his music opened a window in a certain direction for me or pushed open a door through which I could then pass and take my journey with themusic. Duration: Approximately 20 minutes

Cyclisme, aviron, boxe. Musicland est spécialisée dans la publication de la musique ensemble de chaîne depuis sa création en 1987. Une grande partie de sa production est de oeuvres spécialement composée pour le bénéfice des jeunes cordistes, mais elle a également accessibles des oeuvres du passé qui ont été injustement négligé. / Orchestre A Cordes

Following the tradition of humorous and light-hearted themes, this scherzo will delight players and audiences. The swashbuckling pirate-like theme will make this piece a winner at festival and contest. (4:10) / Orchestre A Cordes

Easy music for string groups. Playstrings provides an enjoyable and varied repertoire for young string orchestras carefully structured in two levels. The ‘Easy’ level does not normally exceed Grade 2 in difficulty with most partsplayable in first position while the ‘Moderately Easy’ level includes some parts of around Grade 3 standard. At easy level alternative parts are provided so that the absence of viola or a double bass does not prevent the piecefrom being performed. Available in score or sets of instrumental parts. There are over 30 titles covering a wide range of styles including classical pieces folk tunes and Christmas collections. Playstrings is an idealintroduction to orchestral playing for young string players.Available here is the Full Score for Sounds from Scotland for String Orchestra. Parts are available on CH55724

Perfect companion to the method All For Strings suitable for classroom or individual study. Including exercises and games encompassing music fundamentals introduced in the method books the workbooks are correlated withthe method and provide beginning string players with essential elements for a thorough understanding of music. Theory Workbook 1 will help you to understand the fundamentals and theory of music. The study of musicfundamtentals and theory together with careful practice in playing your instrument will help you to develop into a complete musician with the ability to perform with musical understanding. Best Wishes!Gerald E.AndersonRobert S. Frost

Teacher Resource Kit-This valuable source of support materials includes lesson plans reproducible student activity pages and much more on CD-ROM. It's all designed to help you get the most out of your Essential Elements experience.Over 30Lesson PlansCorrelated to Essential Elements 2000 - Book 1 and organized into three parts:- Learning Objectives- Teaching Strategies- AssessmentReproducible Student ActivityPagesThese worksheets have been developed to provide support materials to enhance learning and help develop comprehensive musicianship. Some activities can be done in class while others may be used as homeworkassignments; all pages are reproducible. Activities include:- Rhythm Studies- Creating Music- Music Theory- Listening Exercises- QuizzesAll documents are available on the includedCD-ROM. Lesson plans can be imported into any word processing program allowing you to edit personalize and print.

a Miniature for String Orchestra-Full score plus set of 10 parts: 3 x vln1 2 x vln2 2 x vla 2 x vcl 1 x db. Separate parts available individually promptly and at little cost. Julian writes: 'My father composed his four part song 'The Moon' in 1959 to words by W.H Davies. The text as in so many of his word settings equates nature with humanity: 'Thy beauty haunts me heart and soul'. Although 'The Moon' remained unperformed until his centenary year in 2014 he evidently felt strongly enough about it to create this miniature for string orchestra.'