Special Arrangements for Intermediate Groups

String ensemble music arranged for intermediate players by Jane Melin, available via G’DAEMUSIC.COM. Some have also been published on Sheet Music Plus and Sheet Music Direct.

The following titles have been or will be published soon. All instrumentation refers to bowed stringed instruments.

ComposerWorkInstrumentation/PartsComments
AlbinoniAdagioQuartetIn progress: an arrangement that brings some of the highest notes down to lower positions.
BoccheriniPassacale from Night Music of the Streets of MadridQuartetYouth students love the guitar-strumming effects and rapid bariolage in this piece!
GardelTango Por Una CabezaQuartetFeatured in many movies; students will love the tango groove!
GershwinLullabyQuartetIntermediate-level abridged arrangement of this piece from 1919
JoplinSolace for BethenaPiano trio (piano, violin, cello)Medley of two Joplin works
KodalyIntermezzo from Hary Janos SuiteQuartetTurbulent Hungarian vibes! Solo violin + piano arrangement also available
MozartIntroduction and Minuet from Quartet #19, "Dissonance"QuartetAccessible Mozart for an intermediate quartet
Rachmaninoff"Bogoroditse Devo" from VespersQuartetArranged from the SATB chorus of this work
Schumann, R.Scherzo from Quartet #1QuartetThis arrangement has a cut (for length) in the middle of the movement, and a bonus Violin 3 part if there is no viola player.
TraditionalThe WellermanTrio (violin, viola, cello)Popular sea-shanty arranged with percussive effects from each instrument, and optional sing-along lyrics
WarlockCapriol SuiteQuartetIn process: an accessible edition of all 5 movements, with highest notes written down an octave.

Standard Repertoire for Advancing Student Ensembles

Here are some other highly-recommended selections for advancing student ensembles. Most require at least two players per part, and some also have an advanced piano part in the ensemble. Unless otherwise noted, all are in the public domain, and parts can be found at imslp.org.

ComposerWorkInstrumentation/PartsComments
BachBrandenburg Concerto #3, completeDouble string sextet (3 each of violins, violas, cellos) with keyboardMuch-beloved by student string ensembles.
BlochConcerto Grosso #1, multiple movementsString Orchestra plus pianoFor advanced string classes and ensembles; requires a skilled pianist as well. Recently came into Public Domain.
BrittenSimple Symphony, multiple movementsString OrchestraNot as simple as its title, but popular with youth students! Not yet in Public Domain.
ElgarSerenade for Strings, multiple movementsString OrchestraChallenging but very rewarding.
GriegHolberg Suite, multiple movementsString OrchestraA perennial favorite.
HolstSt. Paul's Suite, multiple movementsString OrchestraA good introduction to romantic and folk-flavored string ensemble repertoire.
RespighiAncient Airs and Dances Suites 1-3, multiple movementsString OrchestraSome movements are more accessible than others. Suite 3 is not yet in the Public Domain.
SukSerenade for Strings, multiple movementsString OrchestraVery melodic; for advanced players only.
TchaikovskyAndante Cantabile from Quartet #1QuartetAccessible Tchaikovsky in quartet format.
TchaikovskySerenade for Strings, multiple movementsString OrchestraQuite challenging!
WarlockCapriol Suite, multiple movementsString OrchestraThe original version, now in the Public Domain.