String Orchestra Pieces

A Day At The Carnival (Strings)

A Day At The Carnival takes beginner musicians on a journey through rondo form (ABACA) centred around a beautiful melody played by the first violins. In the key of D major, mainly using quarter notes and eighth notes. This piece is light and fresh and will ‘wow’ audiences if played with sensitivity.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Procession Of The King (Strings)

This is a simple and upbeat number that portrays the entrance of a regal King. The piece uses mainly quarter notes and eighth notes and provides beginner musicians with a chance to play expressively and with a sense of command. A wonderful arrangement with parts for varying levels of course. Excellent for general concert performances to showcase your developing musicians.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Jingle Bells (Strings & Percussion)

A winter classic arranged with wonderful tempo changes and dynamic shifts to excite your beginner string orchestra. With a four bar solo to showcase the percussion section and some lovely scalic melodic passages in the chorus section, this is the ideal addition to your festive season concert.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Galloping Goose (Strings & Piano)

This wonderful piece uses a modern structure as it builds through various musical phrases. What was once the name of an old ‘railcar’ (similar to a train), the Galloping Goose now refers to a beautiful hiking trail network in Victoria, Canada. With a steady and accessible tune, this piece engages audiences with its reflective and expansive feel.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Ghost Of Tom (Strings & Percussion)

A schoolyard favourite, Ghost Of Tom, is a spooky melody in B minor that has been arranged in a round-like structure. Most instruments will get a chance to play the melody and will need to maintain concentration as they play their part in time to create a round. The piece has some brilliant dynamic contrast and requires string players to play both pizzicato and arco. This is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Dangerous Dive (Strings)

A simple and dramatic piece in the Key of E minor that provides a nice way to test students' understanding of relative minor keys. The piece uses mainly quarter note and eighth note rhythms, with a hint of syncopation. There is also some nice dynamic contrast within the piece, helping younger players to understand the sensitivity needed in their playing as they develop their instrumental skills.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Big Time Blues (Strings & Percussion)

Centred around a standard 12 bar blues chord progression, Big Time Blues is a rousing piece that shows off the versatility of your string orchestra. A punchy opening melody from the Advanced Violin kicks in from the opening passage, with little moments of ornamentation here and there from the rest of the ensemble. A fun call-and-response middle section gives the percussionists their time in the spotlight, before the full orchestra joins in for a big finish!

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Trampolina (Strings & Piano)

Trampolina is written in the style and structure of a sonata form, like a 1st movement of a Classical era sonatina. It is in C major, modulating to the dominant for the 2nd subject. Although this could be considered as absolute music, the themes are inspired by a trampoline. Elements such as the rising fifth interval evoke the feeling of soaring jumps and the sequenced motif in the bridge section bounds up and down through the air. The staccato quaver motif ending most phrases are like little hops or bounces, controlling motion after the high jumps. This thematic piece will take your orchestra and audience on a playful childhood adventure, full of energy and emotion.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Anthem For A New World (Strings)

This is a thematic and uplifting score that has some broad melodic phrases and opportunities for multiple instruments to shine. With a contemporary feel that is based on a popular chord progression this is sure to become an ensemble favourite. This piece also delves into some dotted rhythms and explores a range of dynamics. Perfect for an end of year concert to show-off the progress of your orchestra to the community.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.

Beach Air (String Quartet)

Are you ready for this one! Beach Air pays homage to the ‘air’ composition style and is a beautiful piece to expose young players to this classical style made famous by J. S. Bach (Add one letter to Bach and you get Beach, right!?). There is an ‘Easter Egg’ on bar 7 where the high part (Violin 1) spell the word Beach in German musical lettering (B-flat is called B, B-natural is H). Bach could spell his name in music notes, so we did it with Beach too! A more challenging piece that works beautifully for a string ensemble.

Access the YouTube play-along track for this piece here.