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STRINGS

All of the solos and ensembles on this page include a link to a YouTube video

where you can preview the entire score while listening to a recording.

Additional ensemble music with strings can be found

on the Church Music - Instrumental page.

VIOLIN | VIOLA | CELLO-BASS |STRING DUETS|                    STRING QUARTETS

VIOLIN

Violin
Spring Soliloquy - Vln
Spring Soliloquy-0.jpg

SPRING SOLILOQUY

Spring Soliloquy - Violin - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 4:00

Price: $6.50 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Violin and Piano

 

A lyrical piece written as a wedding gift for a colleague when I was teaching in China, so like its companion piece Remember the Rainbow for flute and piano, it also has sort of an oriental sound.

 

Also available transcribed for viola; cello; flute; oboe; bassoon; clarinet; alto saxophone.

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Read more about Spring Soliloquy

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Download from Score Exchange

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Sonatina -Vln
Sonatina for Violin and Piano-0.jpg

SONATINA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO

Sonatina for Violin and Piano - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: MA

Duration: 9:30

Price: $14.00 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

​Violin and Piano

 

As the title suggests, this is a 3-movement composition employing sonata forms on a somewhat smaller scale. It is useful recital repertoire for advanced level students and soloists.

 

The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below.

I.    Allegro agitato - sonata-allegro - A minor        
0:00
II.   Andante tranquillo - chaconne - D major          4:08
III.  Allegro - abridged sonata-rondo - A minor      6:57

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Read more about Sonatina for Violin and Piano

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Preview Solo Part

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Download from Score Exchange

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Performance Video: Zsiga Pal, violin and Gyorgi Szbadka, piano

Fire Dance.jpg

FIRE DANCE
for Violin and Orchestra

Fire Dance - Davide Alogna, violin - London Symphony, VaupoticV
00:00 / 00:00

Level: A

Duration: 5:00

Price: $65.00 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

 Violin and Orchestra                                                                                                                         

 

Fire Dance has 3 sections, following an A-B-A or simple ternary form:

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1. Furious   2. Contemplative   3. Tempo I

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The title of this composition might encourage the listener to conjure up visions of a primitive tribal fire ritual, or possibly an entertaining dance performance with fiery hoops and batons. Both are valid reactions and neither of these interpretations would expect a specific program in the music.

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But an environmental theme can be discerned in the composition by interpreting the violent opening section as depicting a “furious” wildfire, while the quiet middle section “contemplates” the scene of devastation left behind in the fire’s wake with idyllic memories of what it was like before the fire. The final section would recall the fire’s fury and serve as a warning for the future if something isn't done soon to combat wildfire-causing climate change.

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Scored for solo violin, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, bells, timpani, 2 percussion, piano, and strings.

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Also available in transcription for concert band

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Download from Score Exchange

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Recording by the London Symphony Orchestra, Miran Vaupotić, conductor - Davide Alogna, violin

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​Released on the album Symphonic Stradivarius by Navona Records

VIOLA

Viola
Spring-Viola

Level: M

Duration: 4:00

Price: $6.50 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Spring Soliloquy - Viola - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

SPRING SOLILOQUY

Spring Soliloquy - Viola.jpg

Viola and Piano

 

Transcription for viola and piano of a lyrical piece for violin and piano (see above) written as a wedding gift for a colleague when I was teaching in China.

 

Also available transcribed for cello; flute; oboe; bassoon; clarinet; alto saxophone.

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Read more about Spring Soliloquy

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Download from Score Exchange

Sonatina-Viola
Sonatina for Viola and Piano-0.jpg

SONATINA FOR VIOLA AND PIANO

Sonatina for Viola and Piano - Peter Sulski and Randall Hodgkinson
00:00 / 00:00

Level: MA

Duration: 8:00

Price: $14.00 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

​ Viola and Piano

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As the title suggests, this is a 3-movement composition employing sonata forms on a somewhat smaller scale. It is useful recital repertoire for upper intermediate level students and soloists.

 

The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below.

I.    Allegro moderato - sonata-allegro       -         B minor        
0:00
II.   Andante con moto - theme and Variations - Bb major       3:17
III.  Allegro - abridged sonata-rondo          -       B minor         5:30

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Read more about Sonatina for Viola and Piano

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Preview Solo Part

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Download from Score Exchange

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Recording by Peter Sulski, Viola and Randall Hodgkinson, Piano

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Released on the solo album Trios and Sonatinas by Navona Records

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Also released on the multi-composer album Bowed Colors by Navona Records

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Sonatina For Viola And Piano", by Richard E. Brown, recruits Hodgkinson’s cozy piano playing for the album’s best selection that births plenty of melody. -- Take Effect (from review of Bowed Colors)

Cello-Bass
CELLO-BASS
Spring-Cello
Spring Soliloquy - Cello.jpg

SPRING SOLILOQUY

Spring Soliloquy - Cello - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 4:00

Price: $6.50 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Cello and Piano

 

Transcription for cello and piano of a lyrical piece for violin and piano (see above) written as a wedding gift for

a colleague when I was teaching in China.

 

Also available transcribed for violaflute; oboe; bassoon; clarinet; alto saxophone 

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Read more about Spring Soliloquy

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Download from Score Exchange

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Sonatina-Cello
Sonatina for Cello and Piano-0.jpg

SONATINA FOR CELLO AND PIANO

Sonatina for Cello and Piano - Ovidiu Marinescu and Anna Kislitsyna
00:00 / 00:00

Level: MA

Duration: 8:40

Price: $14.00 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Cello and Piano

 

As the title suggests, this is a 3-movement composition employing sonata forms on a somewhat smaller scale. It is useful recital repertoire for upper intermediate level students and soloists.

 

This sonatina was performed in New York's famous Carnegie Hall in November 2023.

 

The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below.

I.    Allegro motorato - sonata-allegro - D minor         0:00
II.   Andante con moto - chaconne - F major                3:17
III.  Allegro - abridged sonata-rondo - D minor         6:27

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Read more about Sonatina for Cello and Piano

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Preview Solo Part

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Download from Score Exchange

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Recording by Ovidiu Marinescu, Cello and Anna Kislitsyna, Piano

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Released on the solo album Trios and Sonatinas by Navona Records

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Also released on the multi-composer album A Grand Journey, Vol. 2 by Navona Records

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“Sonatina for Cello and Piano”, by Brown, [has} a graceful beauty that flows with much attention to detail thanks to the warm melodies. - Take Effect (from review of  A Grand Journey, Vol. 2 )

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Sonatina - Bass
Sonatina for Contrabass and Piano-0.jpg

SONATINA FOR CONTRABASS AND PIANO

Sonatina for Contrabass and Piano - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: MA

Duration: 8:00

Price: $14.00 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Contrabass and Piano

 

As the title suggests, this is a 3-movement composition employing sonata forms on a somewhat smaller scale. It is useful recital repertoire for advanced level students and soloists.

 

The individual movements, with locations on the audio track, are listed below.

I.    Allegro con fuoco - sonata-allegro - B minor      
0:00
II.   Andantino - chaconne - D major                           3:17
III.  Allegro - abridged sonata-rondo - B minor         5:30

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Read more about Sonatina for Contrabass and Piano

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Preview Solo Part

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Download from Score Exchange

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STRING DUETS
Far East Suite - Str.
A Little Far East Folk Song Suite - Violin-Cello.jpeg

A LITTLE FAR EAST FOLK SONG SUITE

A Little Far East Folk Song Suite - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: ME

Duration: 5:00

Price: $4.95

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Violin and Cello Duet                                                                                    PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

A Little Far East Folk Song Suite is an easy arrangement for young violin and cello students consisting of three popular folk songs from the Far East:  Sakura – Japan  -  Arirang – Korea  -  Alishan – China

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​Download from Score Exchange  

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String Duets
Aus. Folk Song
Australian Folk Song - Vlns.jpg

VARIATIONS ON AN

AUSTRALIAN FOLK SONG

Variations on an Australian Folk Song - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level ME

Duration: 2:00

Price: $4.95 

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Violin Duet                                                                                                                

 

This contest/recital piece for upper middle or young high school students is in the form of a theme with three variations. The theme is Botany Bay, a popular folk song from Australia. It was originally written in 2000 for my middle school students in Albuquerque. Separate parts are included to do away with awkward page turns.

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Also available for clarinet duet, flute duet, and saxophone duet

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Download from Score Exchange

Dime - vln duet
Dime Variations - Vlns.jpg

DIME VARIATIONS

Dime Variations - violin duet - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 2:45

Price: $4.95

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Violin Duet                                                                                                    PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

This fun little duet, perfect concert and contest repertoire for advanced middle school and all high school students, consists of a theme and seven variations based on an original melody. Its title comes from the theme's somewhat uneven ten-measure length. Separate parts are included to avoid awkward page turns.

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Also available for violin & viola duet (below), flute duet, saxophone duet, and clarinet duet

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Read more about Dime Variations

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Dime vln-vla
Dime Variations - Str..jpg

DIME VARIATIONS

Dime Variations - violin & viola - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 2:45

Price: $4.95

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Violin and Viola Duet                                                                                     PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

This fun little duet, perfect concert and contest repertoire for advanced middle school and all high school students, consists of a theme and seven variations based on an original melody. Its title comes from the theme's somewhat uneven ten-measure length. Separate parts are included to avoid awkward page turns.

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Also available for violin duet (above). flute duet, saxophone duet, and clarinet duet

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Read more about Dime Variations

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Download from Score Exchange  

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STRING QUARTETS
String Ensembles
Gershwin Prelude - Str
Gershwin's Prelude - strings.jpg

GERSHWIN'S PRELUDE

Gershwin's Prelude - Geroge Gershwin/Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 3:00

Price: $6.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet                                                                                     PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

George Gershwin's Preludes for Piano of 1926 is probably his best-known work for solo piano. Of the 3 preludes in this set, the second one is the most popular and most often heard. This arrangement for student string quartet is transposed up a semitone from the original C# minor/F# major to the more student-friendly  D minor/G major. It gives young string players an opportunity to enjoy learning some classic Gershwin.

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Also available scored for mixed wind quartet, saxophone quartet, and clarinet quartet

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Schubert - strings
Schubert's Serenade - strings.jpg

SCHUBERT'S SERENADE

Schubert's Serenade - Franz Schubert/Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 3:15

Price: $6.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet
                                                          

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was, along with his older contemporary Beethoven, an important composer in the linking of the Classic and Romantic periods of music history. He is especially remembered for his many lieder (art songs). This Serenade, the best-known of several pieces by Schubert with that designation, was originally written in 1826 as a song for solo voice and piano to a text by Shakespeare. It is one of his most famous melodies and has, over the years, been arranged for many different combinations of instruments

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Also available scored for clarinet quartet and mixed wind quartet

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Brahms' Waltz - strings.jpg

BRAHMS' WALTZ

Brahms Waltz - Johannes Brahms/Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 1:45

Price: $5.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet                                                                                       PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

The Waltz in Ab, Op. 39, No. 15 is one of the best-known piano pieces by the great German Romantic composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). Although just one in a set of 16 short waltzes for piano that Brahms penned in 1865, it has long taken on a life of its own, eclipsing all of the others in popularity. The set was originally written for piano 4-hands, where this waltz was in the key of A. When Brahms arranged it for solo piano later that same year, he lowered it a semitone to Ab. This arrangement restores the original key.

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Also available scored for clarinet quartet and saxophone quartet

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Brahms Waltz - Str
Brahms' Waltz - strings.jpg

BRAHMS' WALTZ

Brahms Waltz - Johannes Brahms/Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 1:45

Price: $5.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet                                                                                PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

The Waltz in Ab, Op. 39, No. 15 is one of the best-known piano pieces by the great German Romantic composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). Although just one in a set of 16 short waltzes for piano that Brahms penned in 1865, it has long taken on a life of its own, eclipsing all of the others in popularity. The set was originally written for piano 4-hands, where this waltz was in the key of A. When Brahms arranged it for solo piano later that same year, he lowered it a semitone to Ab. This arrangement restores the original key.

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Also available scored for clarinet quartet and saxophone quartet

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Faure Strings
Faure's Pavane - strings.jpg

FAURE'S PAVANE

Fauré's Pavane - Gabriel Fauré/Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 3:25

Price: $6.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet
                  

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) was a French composer, organist, and pianist who, along with his contemporaries Claude Debussy and Gustav Mahler, is often considered a transition figure from the Romantic into the 20th Century periods of music history.

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Fauré's Pavane, Op. 50 of 1886 is one of his best-known compositions. It was, like some of Debussy's music, originally composed for piano but later orchestrated by the composer, and today it is usually heard in that version. It has also been arranged for many different combinations of instruments.

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This arrangement for standard string quartet includes an alternate 3rd violin part to substitute for viola.

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Also available scored for clarinet quartet and woodwind quartet

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Download from Score Exchange  

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G & V - Str
Gavotte & Variation - Strings.jpg

GAVOTTE AND VARIATION

Gavotte and Variation - G.F. Handel/Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 1:45

Price: $4.95

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet
                  

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was one of the most important composers of the late Baroque period. The gavotte is a French dance that was popular during that time. Gavotte and Variation was originally written for keyboard (in Handel's day, it would most likely have been played on the harpsichord).

This student string quartet is transcribed from an arrangement for mixed woodwind quartet that I originally wrote for my middle school students.

 

An alternate 3rd violin part is included to substitute for viola.

 

Also available scored for brass quartet.

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Traumerei - clarinets.jpg

TRAUMEREI

Traumerei - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Grade: 3

Duration: 2:20

Price: $5.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Clarinet Quartet - 2 Bb Clarinets, Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet                   PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE                                                                                    
Traumerei (dreaming) is one of Robert Schuman’s (1810-1856) most famous and best-loved melodies. It is the 7th movement from his 1838 piano suite Kinderscenen, Op. 15 (Scenes from Childhood). It has been heard everywhere from music boxes to motion pictures and has been arranged many times for many ensembles. Here is a new one for grade 3 clarinet quartet. 

 

An optional 3rd clarinet part is included to substitute for alto clarinet.

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Also available scored for saxophone quartet

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Download from Score Exchange  

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Traumerei - str.
Traumerei - strings.jpg

TRAUMEREI

Traumerei - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 2:20

Price: $5.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

ORDER MUSIC

Standard String Quartet                                                                    PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

Traumerei (dreaming) is one of Robert Schumann’s most famous and best-loved melodies. It is the 7th movement from his 1838 piano suite Kinderscenen, Op. 15 (Scenes from Childhood). It has been heard everywhere from music boxes to motion pictures and has been arranged many times for many ensembles. Here is a new one for intermediate string quartet. 

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Also available scored for clarinet quartet and saxophone quartet

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Download from Score Exchange 

Mozart's Rondo - strings
Mozart's Rondo - strings.jpg

MOZART'S RONDO
"Alla Turca"

Mozart's Rondo - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: M

Duration: 2:00

Price: $5.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet                                                                                 PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

One of Mozart's most famous and often-played piano pieces, the “Rondo Alla Turca” (Turkish Rondo) is the third movement of his Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K. 331. This abridged arrangement is scored for string quartet.

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Also available scored for wind quintet and brass quintet

 

Download from Score Exchange 

Barcarolle
Offenbach's Barcarolle - strings.jpg

OFFENBACH'S BARCAROLLE

Offenbach's Barcarolle - Richard E Brown
00:00 / 00:00

Level: MA

Duration: 2:00

Price: $5.50

 

Publisher: Dacker Music

Standard String Quartet                                                                                     PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
                  

A barcarolle was originally a traditional Venetian gondolier song, usually in gentle 6/8 meter (think “Santa Lucia”). The name has also long been used in classical music for other compositions in that style. Of a great many barcarolles in the literature, the best-known is probably the duet “Belle nuit, o nuit d’amour “ from Jacques Offenbach’s final opera “Les Contes d’Hoffman.” This is a reasonably faithful, somewhat challenging arrangement for moderately advanced string quartet of that famous melody. 

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Also available scored for wind quintet, brass quintet, and string orchestra

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Download from Score Exchange  

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