LudwigMasters Concert Strings

The operetta Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) was written in 1905 by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár (1870-1948), with a libretto by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein. The story tells of a rich widow...

Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) is best known for his short opera, Cavalleria Rusticana. First performed on May 17, 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, it enthralled the audience so much that they demand...

Verdi's music transcends the boundaries of its genre. This excerpt from Aida has become a part of popular culture. It includes a significant number of bowings and fingerings to assist less experienced...

Chicken Cha Cha for string orchestra delightfully expresses a day in the life of a chicken, including the creative musical description of running in the coop via dissonant eighth notes. All instrument...

This song is as beautiful as the red flowers themselves. Rich harmonies transport the listener to the hillsides of Shanxi Province, home to the bright red blossoms. The song is widely popular in China...

This piece is the confluence of J.S. Bach and South America. A lively, Brazilian-influenced tune in C minor uses a chord progression, suggested by Bach, in jazz form. Confluence begins with a passiona...

Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon is adapted from a traditional Chinese folk ensemble piece. The composition by Xinyu (Maggie) Francis-Ma is lighthearted and distinctive, portraying the relaxed and lei...

Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish writer, poet and lyricist. Moore's songs The Meeting of the Waters and The Minstrel Boy both reflect his deep emotional attachment to Ireland, but they do so in d...

This arrangement is adapted from a traditional Chinese folk ensemble piece. The composition is lighthearted and distinctive, portraying the relaxed and leisurely essence of ordinary life, and showcasi...

Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish writer, poet and lyricist. Moore's songs The Meeting of the Waters and The Minstrel Boy both reflect his deep emotional attachment to Ireland, but they do so in d...

As the title implies, this is a foray into the world of jazz and swing for the string orchestra (with optional drum set). Melodic content is shared among all sections, flatted thirds and sevenths are...

Mozart's magical minuet movement from Symphony No. 40 comes alive in this masterful edition for string orchestra by Percy Hall. The grace and style of the classic minuet still charms audience and play...

The most well-known aria from English Purcell's (1659-1695) three-act tragic opera Dido and Aeneas, Dido's Lament (also "When I am laid in Earth") is sung by the title character near the end of the op...

The most well-known aria from English Purcell's (1659-1695) three-act tragic opera Dido and Aeneas, Dido's Lament (also "When I am laid in Earth") is sung by the title character near the end of the op...

Lush harmonies and a timeless melody are a perfect fit for strings.  The descending chromatic scale leads enchantingly into the dreamlike beauty of the string orchestra. A great selection for a p...

Lush harmonies and a timeless melody are a perfect fit for strings.  The descending chromatic scale leads enchantingly into the dreamlike beauty of the string orchestra. A great selection for a p...

After You've Gone is a 1918 popular song composed by Turner Layton with lyrics by Henry Creamer. It was recorded by Marion Harris on July 22, 1918, and released by Victor Records. This intermediate se...

After You've Gone is a 1918 popular song composed by Turner Layton with lyrics by Henry Creamer. It was recorded by Marion Harris on July 22, 1918, and released by Victor Records. This intermediate se...

An original work for string orchestra, by a master composer, Olympiad was composed in a quasi-Baroque style. In three movements, the second of which features a lyrical melody for violas and cellos, th...

Originally written as a movement from a concerto for two horns, this Vivaldi masterpiece has been wonderfully rescored for string orchestra (with the solo lines being given to the violinists). An opti...

Starting with the lively, contrapuntal Overture in ritornello form, Concertino for Strings demands only moderate technical facility. Movement II (Dirge) features cellos and basses in a pizzicato walki...

One of the most recognizable works by Bach (originally written for organ), this arrangement features the fugue theme and developments passed through all string voices, creating an exciting challenge f...

The great composer of Norway had a knack for expansive and often haunting melodies. This is one of his finest. Carefully arranged to make the most of the expressive qualities of string instruments, th...

Three separate movements of classic Americana: The Arkansas Traveller; The Colorado Trail and Turkey in the Straw. As the pioneers moved west, they took their songs with them, singing them on the trai...