Think Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide but just for strings! Written to be used for outreach or recruiting concerts, this piece is a great way to educate audiences of all ages about the different instruments of the string orchestra. All of your students will love getting a chance in the spotlight as the simple main theme is followed by five variations, each featuring a different section (yes, Violins I and II get their own separate variation!). The piece concludes with a rousing 6/8 finale in which phrases of the theme are tossed from section to section, giving your audience a final review of what they have learned. Very playable and very enjoyable for all! (6:10) / 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

Now available for string orchestra this concert medley from one of Broadway's most beloved productions features four memorable songs from Lerner and Loewe including: Getting to Know You I Whistle a Happy Tune The March of the Siamese Children and Shall We Dance?