IMSLP Forums

I'm a brand new teacher coaching a small string ensemble and have no idea which pieces I should use. Any recommendations? (Difficulty: moderate - quite hard)

I have several suggestions (for which I've provided links):

1). Edward Elgar - Serenade for String Orchestra, Op.20

http://imslp.org/wiki/Serenade_for_Stri ... r,_Edward)

2). Borodin - String Quartet No.2 (nocturne). Even though this was originally written for string quartet, it works quite nicely for a string ensemble

http://imslp.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No ... rfirevich)

3). Bloch - Concerto Grosso No.1. Sadly, this file is blocked on the wiki since it's under copyright everywhere except Canada. It's a wonderfully robust and exiting piece for students to play though (from my experience).

4).Bach - Brandenburg Concertos. Franckly (a composer pun), all the concertos (arranged version) are quite excellent for string orchestra. For reference:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Conce ... Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Conce ... Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Conce ... Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Conce ... Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Conce ... Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Conce ... Sebastian)




There are several other pieces, of course, that students can play. One thing I do advice, however, is to select pieces for a reason. A mistake new teachers often make is to pick pieces for the sake of picking pieces. It's always advisable to select pieces that will teach the students a specific skill (or set of skills) in either technique or music. I'm sure other's will be along with more suggestions very soon

Dvorak's String Serenade in E major or Josef Suk's String Serenade in E-flat major.

Brahms String Sextets and Quintets.
Mendelssohn String Quartets and Quintets
Mozart Quintets

Tchaikovsky: Serenade in C for Strings
Arensky: Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, arr. for strings

I played violin for both of these in my advanced high-school ensemble. They can get rather difficult in places.

--Sixtus

Holst's St Paul's suite and Britten's Simple Symphony are both excellent pieces.

BKhon wrote:I have several suggestions (for which I've provided links):
4).Bach - Brandenburg Concertos. Franckly (a composer pun), all the concertos (arranged version) are quite excellent for string orchestra...

Those are very good choices and I'd recommend them as well. Of course, I'd also have to recommend The Four Seasons, by Antonio Vivaldi.