Tchaikovsky's Souvenir De Florence was commissioned by the St. Petersburg Chamber Music Society in 1887 but the work was not finished until 1892 due to Tchaikovsky turning his attention to his opera Queen of Spades. It has been observed that the final movement in particular is orchestrally conceived rather than in the style of chamber music. The work is fittingly often performed by string orchestras and many believe it to actually more effective in that format. This is the original setting of the piece for String Sextet - 2 Violins 2 Violas and 2 Cellos.

String Quartet no. 2 op. 15-Alexander Zemlinsky?s music was long unjustly overshadowed by what was regarded as the more progressive? Second Viennese School. Although Zemlinsky was close friends with its protagonist Arnold Schönberg he never did take the latter?s radical step into dodecaphony. At the same time he composed works that were no less original or fully fledged. Composed between 1913 and 1915 his Second String Quartet in particular pushed the contemporaneous understanding of form and tonality to its limits. With just one movement but spanning over 1 200 measures this multi-faceted work numbers among the most significant contributions to the genre of the time and has long merited acritical new edition. The Urtext edition by G. Henle Publishers corrects many errors and inaccuracies in the first edition that came to light after careful comparison with the autograph sources in Vienna and Washington. For the first time too the metronome markings that survive only in one of Zemlinsky?s letters have been incorporated. Editorial work was kindly supported by the Alexander Zemlinsky Endowment Fund in Vienna.

Viva Vibrato! is exciting innovative and revolutionary in its approach to teaching vibrato. There has never been anything like it before. Its upbeat style and dialogue and contemporary design gently guides studentsthrough a five-section curriculum: Vibrato Readiness The Birth of a Vibrato The Developing Vibrato The Maturing Vibrato The Artistic Vibrato. All teachers of string instruments will find this course user friendly. The courseincludes Violin Viola Cello String Bass Piano Accompaniment Teacher's Manual and Score.

String Quartet no. 2 op. 15-Alexander Zemlinsky?s music was long unjustly overshadowed by what was regarded as the more progressive? Second Viennese School. Although Zemlinsky was close friends with its protagonist Arnold Schönberg he never did take the latter?s radical step into dodecaphony. At the same time he composed works that were no less original or fully fledged. Composed between 1913 and 1915 his Second String Quartet in particular pushed the contemporaneous understanding of form and tonality to its limits. With just one movement but spanning over 1 200 measures this multi-faceted work numbers among the most significant contributions to the genre of the time and has long merited acritical new edition. The Urtext edition by G. Henle Publishers corrects many errors and inaccuracies in the first edition that came to light after careful comparison with the autograph sources in Vienna and Washington. For the first time too the metronome markings that survive only in one of Zemlinsky?s letters have been incorporated. Editorial work was kindly supported by the Alexander Zemlinsky Endowment Fund in Vienna.

Wonderful for teaching Baroque style and bowing concepts, this piece features limited third position for the violins, cellos, and basses. Violas share in the thematic materials with string basses, mostly sharing the basso continuo line with cellos. This movement from Telemann's Sonata in A for String Quartet has been perfectly set by Robert Sieving. (3:20) / Orchestre A Cordes

This arrangement endeavors to allow string ensembles to grow with this intricate composition. It has been shortened and an emphasis has been placed on instrumental technique. The focus is on the musical sophistication of this composition with the goal of developing musicality. (2:20) / Orchestre 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.

Companion theory workbooks to the methods suitable for individual or group study. Provides beginning string players with the basics for a thorough understanding of music. The music theory exercises and games are introduced sothat they will correspond with the tutor books. If you have been looking for theory workbooks in viola clef and bass clef look no further!

Originally part of Walton's film score to Henry V composed in 1943 'Touch her soft lips and part' has been taken from the original string version and arranged beautifully by Michael Berkeley for a smaller ensemble.

Stephen Warbeck's Oscar-winning music from the hit film 'Shakespeare in Love' has been skillfully arranged by Tony Osbourne into a four-movement suite for intermediate string ensemble. The suite perfectly encapsulates all the passion romance and wit of this delightful love story which traces the footsteps of the young Shakespeare. With an exciting opening sighing love-themes and two rhythmic dances which capture the atmosphere of the vibrant Elizabethan court this contrasted suite will stir players' and audiences' imagination and take flight.

With countless awards and her bluesy gospel-style hit that has been #1 in both the U.S. and Europe Adele is pop musics reigning queen. Larry Moores solid chart is a soulful groove that will sound great with a string ensemble.

String teachers have long turned to the First Album series to fulfill the need for fun educational first-year solo and ensemble music. Familiar classics and original works are presented each in elementary firstposition. All material has been carefully edited and bowed.First Quartet Album - easy arrangements of 20 classics by Haydn Beethoven Schumann Mozart and more