Orchestra (sorted by grade level)
Grade 0.5
Bits of Stardust - string orchestra (Grade 0.5)
Take your audience up to the sky as twinkling cosmic particles light up the world, filling us with hope and wonder. A perfect start to a musical journey! Optional tom-tom.
Wingert-Jones Publications - 2024
Take your audience up to the sky as twinkling cosmic particles light up the world, filling us with hope and wonder. A perfect start to a musical journey! Optional tom-tom.
Wingert-Jones Publications - 2024
The Lair at Midnight - string orchestra (Grade 0.5)
What lurks in the lair at midnight? The answer is revealed in this engaging work for beginning string orchestra. Using only the first six pitches of the D major scale and based largely on step-wise motion, this piece evokes images of a nighttime excursion into the unknown. Optional piano and low tom-tom are included to enhance and support the orchestra.
FJH Music - 2022
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
What lurks in the lair at midnight? The answer is revealed in this engaging work for beginning string orchestra. Using only the first six pitches of the D major scale and based largely on step-wise motion, this piece evokes images of a nighttime excursion into the unknown. Optional piano and low tom-tom are included to enhance and support the orchestra.
FJH Music - 2022
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Grade 1-1.5
Verdant Meadows - string orchestra (Grade 1)
The imagery of a lush, green meadow helps set the stage for this simple, yet harmonically adventurous composition. The music alternates between legato melodies and staccato harmonies. Following a climactic moment, a peaceful resolution hearkens back to earlier material and ends the piece with a maestoso section.
Carl Fischer - 2018
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
The imagery of a lush, green meadow helps set the stage for this simple, yet harmonically adventurous composition. The music alternates between legato melodies and staccato harmonies. Following a climactic moment, a peaceful resolution hearkens back to earlier material and ends the piece with a maestoso section.
Carl Fischer - 2018
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Final Expedition - string orchestra (Grade 1.5)
This racing, rhythmic string orchestra composition will give your young ensemble a mature sound. Appropriate for developing students, the melodic material is presented in all sections of the orchestra.
Excelcia Music - 2020
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
This racing, rhythmic string orchestra composition will give your young ensemble a mature sound. Appropriate for developing students, the melodic material is presented in all sections of the orchestra.
Excelcia Music - 2020
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
The Great Conquest (Grade 1.5)
Adventure awaits in this high-energy, tension-filled original composition. Great intensive melodic writing that is both short figures and long lines over top of punchy quarter notes and running staccato eighth notes set the scene, while terse dynamics add to the drama. Also great for reinforcing pizzicato.
Wingert-Jones Publications - 2022
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Adventure awaits in this high-energy, tension-filled original composition. Great intensive melodic writing that is both short figures and long lines over top of punchy quarter notes and running staccato eighth notes set the scene, while terse dynamics add to the drama. Also great for reinforcing pizzicato.
Wingert-Jones Publications - 2022
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Mystic Forest - string orchestra (Grade 1.5)
Inspiring melodies evoke thoughts of wonder, and lovely contrasts between staccato and legato represent all of the different colors, shapes, and life forms found in the forest.
Excelcia Music - 2022
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Inspiring melodies evoke thoughts of wonder, and lovely contrasts between staccato and legato represent all of the different colors, shapes, and life forms found in the forest.
Excelcia Music - 2022
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Grade 2-2.5
Majestic Moonlight - string orchestra (Grade 2)
A gentle and lyrical original work that uses lush scoring and pleasing harmonies to paint a vivid picture of the beauty of a moonlit landscape. Simple rhythms and comfortable ranges give young orchestras the opportunity to really focus on lyrical and expressive playing.
Alfred Music - 2021
A gentle and lyrical original work that uses lush scoring and pleasing harmonies to paint a vivid picture of the beauty of a moonlit landscape. Simple rhythms and comfortable ranges give young orchestras the opportunity to really focus on lyrical and expressive playing.
Alfred Music - 2021
Serenity - string orchestra (Grade 2)
This expressive work aims to encapsulate the essence of serenity through its calm, moderate tempo and simple rhythms. The interplay between sweeping melodic lines and beautiful harmonic language provides potential for developing tone, phrasing, and musicality.
FJH Music - 2020
This expressive work aims to encapsulate the essence of serenity through its calm, moderate tempo and simple rhythms. The interplay between sweeping melodic lines and beautiful harmonic language provides potential for developing tone, phrasing, and musicality.
FJH Music - 2020
Skylight - string orchestra (Grade 2)
Visual imagery is often at the center of naming a musical composition, and this lyrical work for string orchestra is no exception. It beautifully conjures images of light entering a space through an overhead opening. Imagine the morning light slowly filling each corner of a room, moment by moment, bit by bit. Long melodies passed throughout the orchestra, building to a pivotal moment, make this musical gem special. (Currently available only digitally through Alfred Music).
Alfred Music - 2023
Visual imagery is often at the center of naming a musical composition, and this lyrical work for string orchestra is no exception. It beautifully conjures images of light entering a space through an overhead opening. Imagine the morning light slowly filling each corner of a room, moment by moment, bit by bit. Long melodies passed throughout the orchestra, building to a pivotal moment, make this musical gem special. (Currently available only digitally through Alfred Music).
Alfred Music - 2023
Skyward - string orchestra (Grade 2.5)
Pulsing eighth notes accompany graceful melodic lines in this engaging work for string orchestra. Written with young musicians in mind, players can experience a range of elegant harmonies without excessive demands on any individual performer. A slower, brooding middle section changes the energy before bursting back into the original content, launching your performers skyward!
Grand Mesa Strings 2024
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Pulsing eighth notes accompany graceful melodic lines in this engaging work for string orchestra. Written with young musicians in mind, players can experience a range of elegant harmonies without excessive demands on any individual performer. A slower, brooding middle section changes the energy before bursting back into the original content, launching your performers skyward!
Grand Mesa Strings 2024
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Wondrous Flight - string orchestra (Grade 2.5)
Written for my son, Wondrous Flight alternates between insistent syncopated rhythms and flowing melodic passages. As the piece progresses, an increase in tempo drives the melodies through each section of the orchestra toward a grandiose, climactic moment.
Grand Mesa Music - 2017
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Written for my son, Wondrous Flight alternates between insistent syncopated rhythms and flowing melodic passages. As the piece progresses, an increase in tempo drives the melodies through each section of the orchestra toward a grandiose, climactic moment.
Grand Mesa Music - 2017
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Grade 3-3.5
Drifting - string orchestra (Grade 3)
Drifting utilizes musical passages to allude to the image of something drifting down a river in the woods. It journeys through twists and turns, placid streams and roaring rapids, eventually making a grand entrance into open waters.
Carl Fischer - 2018
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Drifting utilizes musical passages to allude to the image of something drifting down a river in the woods. It journeys through twists and turns, placid streams and roaring rapids, eventually making a grand entrance into open waters.
Carl Fischer - 2018
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Drive - string orchestra (Grade 3)
From its opening power rock chords to its strong finish, Drive races forward, alternating between syncopated rhythms and soaring melodies. Starting in A minor and modulating to B minor, two opposing melodic patterns emerge, leading to a climactic fortissimo finale.
Grand Mesa Music - 2020
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
From its opening power rock chords to its strong finish, Drive races forward, alternating between syncopated rhythms and soaring melodies. Starting in A minor and modulating to B minor, two opposing melodic patterns emerge, leading to a climactic fortissimo finale.
Grand Mesa Music - 2020
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Surge - string orchestra (Grade 3)
Surge is a rhythmically high-powered piece for string orchestra, full of syncopated rhythms that keep it perpetually driving forward. Surprising and frequent abrupt dynamic changes will also keep your students on their toes in this work. In the key of E minor, this Surge races from start to finish, only breaking after a sudden unexpected grand pause. A brief, slow section builds into familiar, fast material, finishing with a strong unison conclusion.
Grand Mesa Music - 2018
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Surge is a rhythmically high-powered piece for string orchestra, full of syncopated rhythms that keep it perpetually driving forward. Surprising and frequent abrupt dynamic changes will also keep your students on their toes in this work. In the key of E minor, this Surge races from start to finish, only breaking after a sudden unexpected grand pause. A brief, slow section builds into familiar, fast material, finishing with a strong unison conclusion.
Grand Mesa Music - 2018
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
Grade 4+
Dark Sky - string orchestra (Grade 4)
Cinematic vibes are presented in this dark and brooding work for string orchestra. Big, dramatic sections are positioned between fresh rhythmic passages. This one is a fun ride that your musicians will want to play and perform over and over.
Excelcia Music - 2021
Cinematic vibes are presented in this dark and brooding work for string orchestra. Big, dramatic sections are positioned between fresh rhythmic passages. This one is a fun ride that your musicians will want to play and perform over and over.
Excelcia Music - 2021
New Birth - cello, string bass, and orchestra (solos medium advanced, orchestra medium difficulty)
Originally a duet exclusively for cello and bass, this newly reimagined version of New Birth includes a fully orchestrated accompaniment for strings. Commissioned by the duo "Low and Lower" and dedicated to the celebration of the composer's first-born child, this original composition is filled with beautiful harmonies and soaring melodies, sure to render an emotional response by any audience. While the solo cello and string bass are of a more advanced difficulty, the string orchestra parts are accessible to less experienced orchestras.
BELM Press - BP-0003
Originally a duet exclusively for cello and bass, this newly reimagined version of New Birth includes a fully orchestrated accompaniment for strings. Commissioned by the duo "Low and Lower" and dedicated to the celebration of the composer's first-born child, this original composition is filled with beautiful harmonies and soaring melodies, sure to render an emotional response by any audience. While the solo cello and string bass are of a more advanced difficulty, the string orchestra parts are accessible to less experienced orchestras.
BELM Press - BP-0003
Summer Solstice - string orchestra (Grade 4)
Reminiscent of film scores of old, this wonderfully expressive work contains a lot of teachable material and passionate melodies to inspire your students and audiences.
Excelcia Music - 2020
Reminiscent of film scores of old, this wonderfully expressive work contains a lot of teachable material and passionate melodies to inspire your students and audiences.
Excelcia Music - 2020
Unconquered - full orchestra (Grade 5)
This original composition, geared toward teaching the sections of the orchestra, features haunting melodies and clashes of bold chords intertwined with moments of tranquility and wonder. Every section of the orchestra will feel equally important as it tackles this challenging yet appealing piece.
Alfred Music - 2015
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice
This original composition, geared toward teaching the sections of the orchestra, features haunting melodies and clashes of bold chords intertwined with moments of tranquility and wonder. Every section of the orchestra will feel equally important as it tackles this challenging yet appealing piece.
Alfred Music - 2015
J.W. Pepper Editors' Choice