String Orchestra Music

String Orchestra pieces from Excelcia Music Publishing are published in color-coded series.

Prelude
(Grade .5)
Da Capo
(Grade 1)
Harmony
(Grade 1.5)
Intermezzo
(Grades 2-2.5)
Rhapsody
(Grades 3-3.5)
Maestro
(Grades 4 & up)
Flexcel
Concert Works

Each series is carefully graded with composers following strict criteria established by the editorial team. Each piece has been highly vetted in the selection process and meticulously edited, so you know you are getting the best quality music for string orchestra available today. The score and parts are beautifully set for ease of reading, with unique features like oversized time signatures in the conductor’s scores and measure numbers on the parts at every measure, to help facilitate efficient rehearsals. Professional recordings of each piece are available and can be used as pedagogical examples for your students of good tone and musicianship.

Prelude String Orchestra Series - Grade .5

  • 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

Da Capo String Orchestra Series - Grade 1

  • Playable by first year groups
  • Keys of D and G; first position (Bass 3rd position); careful writing of low 2 for Violins and Violas whileavoiding 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

Harmony String Orchestra Series - Grade 1.5

  • 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

Intermezzo String Orchestra Series - Grade 2 to 2.5

  • Playable by 2nd and 3rd year groups
  • Introducing 6/8 time signatures
  • New key signatures including C, A, F and Bb
  • New positions for Violin, Cello and Bass
  • More complex rhythms and fingered double stops

Rhapsody String Orchestra Series - Grade 3 to 3.5

  • Playable by advanced middle school and high school musicians
  • Exploring higher positions for all strings
  • Expanded literature for advancing programs

Maestro String Orchestra Series - Grade 4 and 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

Flexcel Concert Works Series

  • Perfect for flexible instrumentation or reduced ensemble size
  • Scored in four parts with optional Piano
  • Playable by any combination of four string instruments
  • Written for grades 1-3
  • Includes unique photocopying permission, professional recordings and access to digital copies for remote learning
  • Easy to transition to the fully-scored version of the pieces (available from Excelcia Music Publishing) once your ensemble is back together again
  • Pieces edited by veterans who have been publishing flexible music for decades. Flexibility is not a new idea for us!