Music for String Orchestra 2023-24 - Excelcia Music Publishing

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Flip through the pages and hover over each piece with your mouse to click on links. Listen (and watch) the scores and recordings of each new piece by clicking on its cover image. Click the composition title for more details about the piece. Click the “Fullscreen” button in the lower right corner for the best viewing experience.

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Composers who Inspire

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Yukiko Nishimura

Sean O’Loughlin

Katie O’Hara LaBrie

Steve Parsons

Caryn Wiegand Neidhold

Larry Clark

Tyler Arcari

Erica Donahoe

Laura Estes

Matthew R. Putnam

“Take a Bow has been road tested for eight years in the classroom, and thanks to feedback from students and teachers alike, it has evolved into this powerful resource.”

- Caryn Wiegand Neidhold Author & experienced educator, string player and composer

• Playable by first year students with limited study

• Uses only the first six notes of the D Major Scale

• Moderate tempo and 4/4 time signatures

• All sections have an opportunity to play the melody

Christmastide

(I Saw Three Ships, Patapan, in Dulci Jubilo, Deck the Halls)

Tyler Arcari

Using only the first six notes of the D scale, composer/arranger Tyler Arcari found a way to combine, in quodlibet, four classic carols into a delightful setting for the youngest of orchestra musicians. Your first-year students will shine as they delight audiences with I Saw Three Ships, Patapan, in Dulci Jubilo, and Deck the Halls (2:00)

Point Five

Laura Estes

Your students will think the title is intriguing, but it basically says what it is, a dynamic new composition from composer Laura Estes for the least experienced players. Laura draws on her many years of experience teaching beginners to give them a piece they will love to play. (2:02)

Da Capo Orchestra Series

• Playable by first-year groups

• Keys of D and G; first position (Bass 3rd position); careful writing of low 2 for Violins and Violas while avoiding high 3

• Introducing 2/4 and 3/4 time signatures with whole, half, quarter and eighth note patterns with no syncopation

• Detache, pizzicato, staccato, legato and marcato bowings to expand your students’ technique with the right hand

Acropolis

Matthew R. Putnam

This new work for beginning string orchestra is a great introduction to simple syncopation. Using only notes of the D scale, Acropolis also has a great opportunity to introduce simple slurs and legato playing. We know your audience will enjoy this musical experience. (2:08)

Sharp Attack!

(with Optional Household Percussion)

Tyler Arcari

1

The Pirate’s Apprentice

Caryn Wiegand Neidhold

Ahoy Ye Mateys, your beginning string players will love this pirate inspired piece written in dramatic E minor. The lilting 3/4 time will have your musicians and audiences dreaming of adventure on the high seas. You will be glad you selected this fun and motivational piece for your students. (1:50)

Make every week sharp week with your beginning string students. Composer Tyler Arcari gives us a fun teaching piece to help students remember their sharps! Every sharp is clearly indicated to reinforce how accidentals come before the note. The key of B minor brings intensity to the work and adding the optional household percussion only enhances the excitement. (2:07)

• Playable by 2nd year musicians

• Incorporates dotted quarter-notes and simple syncopated rhythms

• Expanded right hand technique of 2-note slurs, hooked bows and adjacent string crossings

• Open string double stops

Carousel Dreams

Erica Donahoe

This delightful waltz gives your performers and audience the feeling of a lovely ride on an oldtime carousel. As you circle around, the carousel horse gently moves up and down to the soothing music. The piece then moves to a melancholy theme as the ride is coming to an end. A stunning new piece for developing string orchestras. (

Alkaline

Tyler Arcari

Written as a follow-up to composer Tyler Arcari’s widely popular work Acidic, Alkaline takes an ironically less “basic” approach in this accessible work for developing string orchestras. The introduction features a clever ostinato pattern that will transport you to the cinema, great parts for the Basses and Cellos, as well as a lush harmonic section make Alkaline a hit! (2:13)

Christmas in Brandenburg

(Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048 , Mvt. 1, Angels We Have Heard on High, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World)

Johann Sebasitan Bach

Arranged by Larry Clark

Solstice Canyon

Sean O’Loughlin

Be transported to the wide-open spaces of a beautiful vista overlooking a canyon. Containing open intervals reminiscent of composers like Copland that have become part of the “American sound,” Sean O’Loughlin brings a strong motivic approach throughout this work with a gentle waltz feel giving us a strong piece for younger students.

Axiom

Larry Clark

An axiom is a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true. Make your orchestra sound mature with this bold piece that includes fanfare gestures, strong themes and contrasting lyrical music. A strong choice for festival performance. (2:38)

Imagine, if you will, if Bach decided to infuse popular Christmas carols into the fabric of his famous Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 That is the idea behind this arrangement, to seamlessly meld together the popular carols by arranging them in the style of this famous Bach work. Composer/arranger Larry Clark has done it again! (2:30)

• Playable by 2nd and 3rd year groups

• Introducing 6/8 time signatures

• New key signatures including C, A, F and B≤

• New positions for Violin, Cello and Bass

• More complex rhythms and fingered double stops

Dovetail

Tyler Arcari

As the title suggests, the lyrical thematic material effortlessly dovetails from one section of the piece to the other. The melodic material is lush and flowing while the pizzicato accompaniment gives the contrast and forward momentum that makes this work feel so right. Wonderful writing from composer Tyler Arcari. (2:45)

Zig Zag

Sean O’Loughlin

Zig Zag is an exciting composition for the young string orchestra. Full of flare and the rhythmic motifs that we have come to love, composer Sean O’Loughlin has created a piece your students will want to play again and again! (2:34)

Cook Strait Crossing

Laura Estes

Based on a true story from New Zealand, composer Laura Estes presents an ideal piece for historical lesson plans, as well as for contest and festival performance. Students will learn from –and love – Cook Strait Crossing (2:31)

Dance of the Sprites

Larry Clark

Sprites are imaginary creatures such as elves, pixies, imps, or fairies. Imagine these tiny little creatures having a joyous time frolicking and dancing about. This is the type of feel composer Larry Clark is looking for with this enjoyable little tune that is contrasted by a lush and lyrical B section – stunning! (2:32)

TakaTiki

Katie O’Hara LaBrie

Reinforce simple sixteenth note rhythms with this infectious Latin style piece from Katie O’Hara LaBrie. The title of course is a play on the Kodály counting system for sixteenth notes and Katie has included teaching materials to help your student, but more than anything this piece is just plain fun! (2:03)

Alley Cat Struttin’

David Samuel

Arranged by Caryn Wiegand Neidhold

Taken from the original version for Jazz ensemble by David Samuel, Caryn Wiegand Neidhold has realized it for the young string orchestra. It is a bluesy, swinging chart with lots of tutti rhythms making this an excellent choice for a young ensemble just starting on the path to Jazz. (2:34)

Rhapsody Orchestra Series

• Playable by advanced middle school and high school musicians

• Exploring higher positions for all strings

• Expanded literature for advancing programs

All is Bright

(Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night)

Steve Parsons

Composer/arranger Steve Parsons gives us a sweeping holiday piece using Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and ever popular Silent Night. His treatment is joyful, harmonical, and fresh in its presentation of these classic carols. Something new and different for your next holiday concert. (2:10)

Hydrangea

Yukiko Nishimura

Composer Yukiko Nishimura continues to create some of the of most beautiful music written for string orchestra over the past twenty-five years. Her sweeping melodies along with her absolutely gorgeous harmonic palette leave a lasting impression on all who play or hear her pieces. Don’t deny your students the opportunity to play this elegant new work. (3:40)

The Night of the Shores

Sean O’Loughlin

Dramatic and cinematic during the lush opening, The Night of the Shores then develops into a full music journey of epic proportions. Composer Sean O’Loughlin moves seamlessly between different emotion with common thematic material to give us a truly stunning work for string orchestra. (3:51)

Shimmering Daydreams

Larry Clark

What is a shimmering daydream? You will know once you hear this lush and lyrical work. The work has contemplative thoughts with a bit of longing and a sense of melancholy but hopeful at the same time. Young musicians will be stretched to express themselves musically with this sensational work from composer Larry Clark. (3:44)

Popular String Orchestra Works from Excelcia Music Publishing’s Catalog

Subatomic Grade ½

By Larry Clark

An exciting piece for young musicians, Subatomic is creative and stimulating for students while providing them an opportunity for early musical success. (1:35) PSO1902

Final Expedition Grade 1½ Bruce W. Tippette

This racing, rhythmic String Orchestra composition will leave your young ensemble with the sense that they sounded like a professional orchestra. The melodic material is presented in all sections. A rousing ending will make even the youngest of groups sound great! (2:18) HSO2004

Colors of Home Grade 3

By Alan Lee Silva

A loving portrait of life growing up in the pastoral foothills of Northern California, Colors of Home conveys a warm Americana feeling, featuring beautifully nuanced melodic themes and carefully crafted harmonies (2:53)

Aliens in the Attic Grade 1 Tyler Arcari

Aliens are here! This exciting new work is full of sound effects, drama, and suspense! Tyler Arcari weaves a dramatic tale of an Alien invasion from above…your attic to be exact! Your students will be asking to play this one over and over! (1:58)

Evening Dusk Grade

By Yukiko Nishimura

“The color is faint but the setting sun still has the power to light up the sky”. Beautifully fresh melodic lines will inspire the best out of any performer. (3:52) ISO1910

Out of Time Grade 4½ Sean O’Loughlin

You have run out of time! This tense new work for String Orchestra is an exhilarating piece of music. Moments of lush tutti playing are pierced by brilliantly fresh-sounding rhythmic interplay between all voices of the orchestra. Students and audiences will love the drive of this one, perfect for any concert performance. (5:11)

Maestro Orchestra Series Grades 4 & up

• Playable by high school musicians

• First Violins explore 5th position while second Violins and Violas move through 3rd position

• Cellos expand to 4th position while the Bass section works through 5th position

River Stories

Yukiko Nishimura

This piece is a tour de force from composer Yukiko Nishimura for the advanced string orchestra. It has all of the hallmark features of her works in an epic suite of three contrasting movements. Lush harmonies, whimsical melodies, and exquisite writing make this a must have for orchestras. (9:50)

Spirit

Tyler Arcari

Spirit is a rousing piece in 6/8 time. It opens with a lush harmonic presentation of thematic material to set the mood before flying into a jaunty Celtic-style romp. Dedicated to his wife Heather, composer Tyler Arcari has written a work that reflects the same strength and wonder for life that he sees in her. (4:04)

Fantastic String Orchestra Music

Published in 2022

Prelude Grade 1/2

Christmas Ringtones PSO2201

Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Up on the Housetop, Jingle Bells

Arranged by Tyler Arcari

The Four Seasons PSO2202

With Thanks to Vivaldi

Caryn Wiegand Neidhold

With a Vengeance

Larry Clark

Da Capo Grade 1

Gravitas DSO2201

Larry Clark

Aliens in the Attic DSO2202

Tyler Arcari

PSO2203

Harmony Grade 1 1/2

Knight Racers

Sean O’Loughlin

Galaxy Jam

Caryn Wiegand Neidhold

Intermezzo Grades 2-2 1/2

Humble Heart ISO2201

Larry Clark

Thundersnow! ISO2202

Rhapsody Grades 3-31/2

Play That Swing RSO2201

Katie O’Hara LaBrie

Along the Creek RSO2202

Steve Parsons

Mistletoe Mix-Up RSO2203

Erica Donahoe

Alpine Rush RSO2204

Liam Ramsey-White

A Broken Mirror RSO2205

George Sweet

HSO2201

HSO2202

Adventure HSO2203

Liam Ramsey-White

First Light

Alan Lee Silva

HSO2204

Mystic Forest HSO2205

Bruce W. Tippette

A City in the Clouds HSO2206

George Sweet

Flight of Jolly Old St. Nicholas HSO2207

John M. Pasternak

Mystery Dance HSO2208

David L. Hinds

Katie O’Hara LaBrie

Mud Trudge

Liam Ramsey-White

Time Traveler

Steve Parsons

Tidal Moon

Sean O’Loughlin

Midnight Storm

Erica Donahoe

Backbone Trail RSO2206

Sean O’Loughlin

ISO2203

ISO2204

ISO2205

ISO2206

As You Fly ISO2207

Ruth Brittin

Carol of the Rising Bells

ISO2208

(Ukrainian Bell Carol, House of the Rising Sun)

Arranged by Tyler Arcari

Bumps in the Night

Bud Woodruff

Sunset Hill RSO2207

Yukiko Nishimura

Maestro Grades 4 & up

The Mysterious House MSO2201

Günther Fiala

String of Dolphins MSO2202

Yukiko Nishimura

Beyond the Veil MSO2203

Tyler Arcari

ISO2209

Flexcel Concert Works Series

The Ultimate in Flexibility

Grade 1

Angels in the Halls

Angels We Have Heard on High/Deck the Halls

Arranged by Matthew R. Putnam

The holiday season is a time of joy, merriment, excitement, and traditions. One such timehonored tradition is the holiday string concert, which is often the debut performance for young musicians. Angels in the Halls will enable beginning string students to demonstrate their developing skills while putting the audience in the spirit of the holidays. (1:57)

Grade 2

2 The Knight Errant

Alan Lee Silva

With pulsing energy from the opening bar, The Knight Errant moves forward with driving precision, building intensity and energy as the piece develops. Composer Alan Lee Silva crafts a tale of a mythical knight who valiantly searches for adventure and opportunity. (2:13)

Grades 2–2 1/2

Greensleeves

Arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram

Set in a clever waltz style, Ruth Elaine Schram has set the well-known folk tune of Greensleeves for flexible strings. This work is an easy and musical introduction into pizzicato playing, with all the lush arco sections that make Greensleeves a timeless melody. (2:31)

Grade 1 1/2

Final Expedition Bruce W. Tippette

This racing, rhythmic flexible orchestra composition will leave your young ensemble with the sense that they sounded like a professional orchestra. Appropriate for younger groups, the melodic material is presented in all voices. A rousing ending will make even the youngest of ensembles sound great! (2:18)

Evening Dusk

Yukiko Nishimura

“The color is faint but the setting sun still has the power to light up the sky”. Yukiko Nishimura’s unique harmonic style and beautifully fresh melodic lines will inspire the best out of any performer. (3:52)

Danza de mi Corazón (Dance of My Heart)

Steven L. Rosenhaus

Composer Steven Rosenhaus always strives to have his music connect emotionally with players and audiences alike. This energetic work does that and makes you want to dance too! It’s truly a “dance of the heart.” (2:27)

FSO2002

Select from box, then press [Design]

C-Sharp-MAJOR-PATTERN

D-MAJOR-PATTERN

E Major Scale - Two Octave Pattern

D-Sharp-MAJOR-PATTERN

E-MAJOR-PATTERN

F-MAJOR-PATTERN

More time playing, less time planning

• Purchase once; use & print forever

• One file contains all string instruments

• Designed when you want, how you want

• Over 150+ exercises

Demo it!

Rhythm Studies

Select from box, then press [Design]

Bow Stretchers

Directions: Each time your practice, Focus on one part of your bow: LH:M:UH

Technique Exercies

Directions: This exercise is used to reinforce alternate fingerings and intonation. When switching between open strings and alternate fingerings, pay very close attention to the intonation between the two.

String-Crossing-1

Table of Contents

Air (Purcell)

Bagatelle (Diabelli)

Desert Winds (Arcari)

Don’t Ever Pass Up Pie! (Arcari)

Ecossaise (Beethoven)

German Dance (Haydn)

I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls (Balfie)

Impertinence (Handel)

Kaleidoscope (Putnam)

La Morisque (Susato)

La Paloma Tango (Iradier)

Lakeside Steps (Arcari)

Minuet (Boccherini)

Minuet (Telemann)

Minuet (J.S. Bach)

A

Minuet in F Major (L. Mozart)

Mozart for Two (W.A. Mozart)

Musette (Couppey)

On the Other Side of Bouree (Arcari)

Promenade (Putnam)

Quadrille (Haydn)

Rondeau (Mouret)

Russian Folk Song (Beethoven)

Scaramella (Prez)

Song (Arcari)

Spring (Vivaldi)

Theme (W.A. Mozart)

Two Dances (Tchaikovsky)

Un Poco Adagio (Clementi)

Bass

25 Trios for Any Three String Instruments

Table of Contents

Alla Hornpipe - Water Music (Handel)

Contredanse (Haydn)

Danza de Hercules (Susato)

Fanfare (Duncombe)

Flamingos (Puttnam)

Funiculi, Funicula (Denza)

German Dance (Beethoven)

German Dance (Schubert)

March - from Aida (Verdi)

Minuet (Beethoven)

Musette - English Suite No. 3 (Bach)

My Country, ‘Tis of Thee (Trad.) Pastorale (C.P.E. Bach)

Violin - SB2001

Viola - SB2002

Pathetique - Piano Sonata No. 8 (Beethoven)

Rondo (Susato)

Sailor’s Song (Grieg)

Saint Anthony Chorale (Brahms)

Shenandoah (American Folk Song)

Sunayama (Trad.)

The Ash Grove (Trad. Welsh Air)

The Imp (Arcari)

Valse Noble (Schubert)

Volte - Terpsichore (1612) (Preaetorius)

Wait Just a Minuet (Arcari)

Waltz (Schubert)

Cello - SB2003

Bass - SB2004

21 Quartets for Any Combination of String Instruments

Table of Contents

Abide with Me (Monk)

Agincourt Carol (English Folk Song)

The Barber of Seville (Rossini)

Be Thou My Vision (Trad. Irish)

Capstone (Arcari)

Chorale - Jupiter (Holst)

Country Gardens (Trad. Morris Dance)

Curse of Tortuga (Arcari)

Dawn of the Century - March (Paull)

Fortune Favors the Bold (Putnam)

Gesù Bambino (Yon)

Violin - SB2008

Viola - SB2009

Go Tell It on the Mountain (Spiritual)

Greensleeves (Trad. English Folk Song)

Home on the Range (Kelly)

In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg)

Les Toréadors - Carmen (Bizet)

Scimitar! (Matthew R. Putnam)

Sea Shanty (19th Century Sea Shanty)

Song Without Words - Second Suite in F (Holst)

The Emperor Waltz (Strauss II)

When Johnny Comes Marching Home (American Folk Song)

Cello - SB2010

Bass - SB2011

Cello - SB1903

- SB1904

Viola - SB1902

Violin - SB1901

Trios & Quartets for Any Combination of String Instruments

These collections from Tyler Arcari feature wellknown and re-discovered sea shanties! The viral resurgence of the sea shanty makes these an excellent addition to any modern music library. Features favorites such as Curse of Tortuga, Homeward Bound, Blow Ye Wind in the Morning, The Fishes and many more.

Visit excelciamusic.com for the complete Table of Contents. Available for Violin, Viola, Cello & Bass.

27 Trios for Any Three String Instruments

Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional)

Auld Lang Syne (Scottish Folk Song)

Away in a Manger (Murray)

The Boars’ Head Carol (Traditional)

Coventry Carol (Traditional English Carol)

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky)

Deck the Halls with Figgy Pudding (Arr. Arcari)

The First Noel (Traditional)

Gesù Bambino (Yon)

Go Tell It on the Mountain (Traditional)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Traditional)

Greensleeves (Traditional)

Hark! The Herald Angel’s Sing (Mendelssohn)

The Huron Carol (Brébeuf)

I Saw Three Ships (Traditional)

In dulci jubilo (Medieval Carol)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Willisi)

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (Hanby)

Joy to the World (Handel)

O Come, All Ye Faithful (Wade)

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Traditional)

O Tannenbaum (Traditiona)

Russian Dance (Trepak) (Tchaikovsky)

Silent Night (Gruber)

Ukrainian Bell Carol (Leontovych)

Up on the Housetop (Hanby)

We Three Kings (Hopkins, Jr.)

22 Quartets for Any Combination of Instruments

Table of Contents

Away in a Manger (Murray/Arcari)

Bells that Jingle (Tyler Arcari)

The Coventry Carol (Trad. English/Putnam)

The First Noel (Traditional English Carol/Arcari)

Go Tell It on the Mountain (Trad. Spiritual/Putnam)

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Trad. English Carol/Putnam)

Greensleeves (Trad. English Folk Song/Putnam)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn/Arcari)

The Huron Carol (Brébeuf/Arcari)

I Saw Three Ships (Trad. English Carol/Putnam)

Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant (Trad. French Carol/Putnam)

in Dulci Jubilo (Medieval Carol/Arcari)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Willis/Arcari)

Joy To The World (Handel/Putnam)

O Tannenbaum (Trad. Folk Song/Arcari)

Pat-a-pan (Monnoye/Putnam)

Russian Dance (Trepak) (Tchaikovsky/Arcari)

Silent Night (Gruber/Putnam)

The Boar’s Head Carol (Trad. English Carol/Putnam)

Ukrainian Bell Carol (Leontovych/Arcari)

Up On The Housetop (Hanby/Putnam)

We Three Kings (Hopkins, Jr./Arcari)