One of operas most famous scenes is now available in this skilled adaption for strings with the powerful tribal dance scene from Samson and Delila. After opening with an evocative violin solo the tension-filled movementaccelerates to abrilliant finish depicting the drama surrounding Samsons destruction of the temple and his enemies.

Score-Samuel Barber's best-known work has become an icon of contemporary orchestral literature. Jamin Hoffman's arrangement now makes this landmark work accessible to intermediate-level groups with careful key and range alterations giving your students the opportunity to play one of the most important pieces of our time. This is a must-have for every school's string library!

POD-Eivind Buene's Langsam Und Schmachtend (2003) was commissioned by The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

Inspired by folklore of the Samodivi (Woodland Fairies) in Slavic myths Soon Hee Newbold has written a piece reminiscent of traditional folk dances with a fantasy flair. A perfect change of pace for any concert Dance of the Samodivi will remind listeners of enchanted forests and favorite fairytales. Like many Newbold pieces each instrument has vital roles in this mythical adventure!

(Echopraxia) by Evis Sammoutis was commissioned by the Pharos Trust. First performance: 19 May 2006 at PASYDY Auditorium (Nicosia Cyprus) by Ensemble Modern.15'; for string sextet: 2vln 2va 2vc

Lament by Mack Wilberg for String Orchestra with optional Organ.This moving piece for String Orchestra is full of pathos and emotion. Stylistically evocative of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and the distinctive musical language of Arvo Pärt Lament is based around a two-bar arching ostinato artfully developing musical fragments and enriching the texture to reach a powerful central climax. This is a welcome addition to the String Orchestra repertory.This piece was recorded on the 2019 Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra CD Tree of Life under the title 'And Wept Bitterly (Lament on an Ostinato for StringOrchestra)'.

Bryce Dessner's Lachrimae was commissioned by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta the Scottish Ensemble and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. Composer's Note: Lachrimae is a direct reference to John Dowland's work of the same name. I had played that that piece in school on guitarand decided that I wanted to base something on it. Dowland himself adapted the piece several times into different versions and there's also a Benjamin Britten composition based on the same piece of music so that was part of myinspiration. When I wrote my work I was listening to string orchestra music and I think Bartók's Divertimento is the pinnacle of string writing. So the piece is kind of equally inspired by Dowland's RennaissanceLachrimae and by Bartók's Divertimento.

Concerto for String Orchestra - the magnum opus of Grayna Bacewicz (1909-1969) the outstanding composer and violinist - was composed in 1948 and at once became one of the most frequently performed works of this Polish artist. This masterpieceof neoclassicism fascinates as much by its invention and virtuosic briliance as its harmonious combination of formal elements of a traditional nature with new tonal ideas. The form of the three-movement Concerto oscillates between that of the baroqueconcerto grosso and the early classical sonata cycle. The neoclassical tendency is evident above all in the articulation of the musical structure in keeping with the rigours of periodicity and the manner of developing thematic threads derived fromthem while the concertato character of particular movements and the generally linear texture indicate baroque connections. The first movement (Allegro) - in the form of an early classical sonata allegro - begins with a subject with energeticfigurations emblematic for the whole piece and based on a constant pendulum-like semiquaver movement anchored securely on D. It is precisely because of the nature of this subject that Bacewiczs work has been compared to the Brandenburg Concertosby Jan Sebastian Bach The second movement (Andante) while retaining its concertato charakter is at the same time an example of the composers ability to create emotionally serene lyrical moods and her sense of cantilena derived from the spiritof romantic song (a motto-subject presented at the beginning by cello solo). In this movement it is both the process of evolution and the instrumental colouring which constitute the constructional agents forming here a self-containedvalue. In thethird movement (Vivo) the composer returns to her favourite type of music understood as an expression of pure motion in the form of figural motives with infinite transformational possibilities. The spontaneity of the music the constant mutabilityof the tonal situations and the sophisticated acerbic harmonies - as Witold Lutosawski described them - form a colourful mosaic built in the structural skeleton of a sonata rondo. Concerto for String Orchestra is not only proof of thestylizing tendency of the composer but also of an unerring intuition concerning the technical and expressive possibilities inherent in a string instruments ensemble. [Magorzata Gsiorowska translated by Ewa Cholewka]

for String Orchestra-Stuart Carlson's Carols of Christmas album for string quartet features seven creative intermediate to advanced arrangements that sparkle with the holiday season. This new series for string orchestra captures the same Yuletide magic with settings geared toward the abilities of middle and high school ensembles. Most passages throughout are playable in first position and bowings are generously placed with an emphasis on musical phrasing and ensemble sound. Among the highlights in this series is Carlson's original composition Christmas Sinfonietta inspired by the festive spirit of Christmas Day itself.

for String Orchestra-Stuart Carlson's Carols of Christmas album for string quartet features seven creative intermediate to advanced arrangements that sparkle with the holiday season. This new series for string orchestra captures the same Yuletide magic with settings geared toward the abilities of middle and high school ensembles. Most passages throughout are playable in first position and bowings are generously placed with an emphasis on musical phrasing and ensemble sound. Among the highlights in this series is Carlson's original composition Christmas Sinfonietta inspired by the festive spirit of Christmas Day itself.

for String Orchestra-Stuart Carlson's Carols of Christmas album for string quartet features seven creative intermediate to advanced arrangements that sparkle with the holiday season. This new series for string orchestra captures the same Yuletide magic with settings geared toward the abilities of middle and high school ensembles. Most passages throughout are playable in first position and bowings are generously placed with an emphasis on musical phrasing and ensemble sound. Among the highlights in this series is Carlson's original composition Christmas Sinfonietta inspired by the festive spirit of Christmas Day itself.

for String Orchestra-Stuart Carlson's Carols of Christmas album for string quartet features seven creative intermediate to advanced arrangements that sparkle with the holiday season. This new series for string orchestra captures the same Yuletide magic with settings geared toward the abilities of middle and high school ensembles. Most passages throughout are playable in first position and bowings are generously placed with an emphasis on musical phrasing and ensemble sound. Among the highlights in this series is Carlson's original composition Christmas Sinfonietta inspired by the festive spirit of Christmas Day itself.

Ballets include Samson and Delilah La Gioconda Giselle Sylvia Swan Lake and more! Only minimal shifting is required in violin 1 cello and bass. An optional cut is provided in the piece for the Ritual Fire Dance which begins by featuring the viola section. Excellent writing and very musical!

All players are given a sample solo along with a solo sheet on the back of their parts teaching them the basics of improvisation. In this case the entire basis of the solo is a G Major scale making for a positive experience for virtually any performer. Outstanding writing by a jazz violinist!

In completion of the first part (Hortus Musicus 50 now out of print) this second part to the 'Music To The Midsummer Night's Dream' contains all the remaining four-part instrumental pieces from Henry Purcell's opera 'The Fairy Queen' (1692). Similar to the pieces in the first part the composer wrote them for performance by Strings but they can also be played by Wind Instruments only (in particular wood-wind) or with string and wind instruments mixed and also with one or several instruments to a part. The pieces were put in such an order that they again present a small self-contained suite.The titles to the several numbers which arepartly mentioned more exactly in this book indicate their place in the above named opera by Purcell. They elucidate at the same time the character of the various pieces. Thus No.1 Air (Second Music) is originally a (second) introductory piece of music for the opera which still precedes the actual Overture. No.2 Jig No.5 Air and No.8 Air are instrumental postludes to the first fourth and second acts of the opera respectively whereas No.4 'Dance for the Followers of Night' No.6 'Dance for the Green Men' and No.7 'Monkeys' Dance' present a motley picture of the operatic construction which provided a great number of allegoric persons and figures. From a purely musical point of view this second part too of the 'Music To The Midsummer Night's Dream' contains gems of old instrumental music. May this present book help to gain new friends for the noble art of the great Old-English composer.