Fauré wrote or revised the six short pieces for four-hand piano between 1893-96. Occasions were the birthdays or other events in the life of the little daughter of the composer, called "Dolly". 
The first and likewise best know piece has a lovely catchy melody with tender accompaniment - typical for a lullaby. The usual six-eight rhythm is lacking, there is a two-four time with semiquaver motion.
The piece was adapted in keys and playability to a youth orchestra.

Level: medium.

Based on piece for piano solo Tchaikovsky's "Seasons" were some of the best selling pieces for the composer. They came out with epigraphs as monthly supplement  of a music magazine.

In this set: Cool and clear purity of a starlit night, impressions of a boat trip, the merry singing of the reapers, stormy summer wind and peace after the harvest.  

Reduced bundle price!

A brand new arrangement of all twelve original piano pieces for orchestra.

Based on piece for piano solo Tchaikovsky's "Seasons" were some of the best selling pieces for the composer. They came out with epigraphs as monthly supplement  of a music magazine.

In this set: A very pictorial representation of the open fire, exuberant joy of life in the carnival, the first singing of the lark, a cheerful picture of the spring.  

Reduced bundle price!

The world-famous harmony sequence - set for 3 high instruments by Pachelbel - in a little changed version for youth orchestra. Extended instrumental colours by winds and brass, more akzentuated rhythms by timpani and triangle. Facilities in melody and key make this popular composition in a new version also playable for your group. 

Level: medium

In original this about 1700 composed harpsichord piece is called "Prince of Denmark's March". Well know is a version for trumpet and organ - often played at weddings - or for trumpet, strings and organ. Here a version, which can be played by your youth orchestra in building up. 

Level: easy

Based on piece for piano solo Tchaikovsky's "Seasons" were some of the best selling pieces for the composer. They came out with epigraphs as monthly supplement  of a music magazine.

In this set: Cool and clear purity of a starlit night, impressions of a boat trip, the merry singing of the reapers, stormy summer wind and peace after the harvest.

Level: advanced

Reduced bundle price!

A brand new arrangement of all twelve original piano pieces for youth orchestra.

Based on piece for piano solo Tchaikovsky's "Seasons" were some of the best selling pieces for the composer. They came out with epigraphs as monthly supplement  of a music magazine.

In this set: A pictorial representation of the open fire, exuberant joy of life in the carnival, the first singing of the lark, a cheerful picture of the spring. 

Level: advanced.

Reduced bundle price!

Inside: York March, March in F, March in C (Tattoo), Polonaise (transposed to BbMaj).
Beethoven composed some of the pieces for an open air concerto in honor of Empress Maria Karolina for military band. This arrangement for youth orchestra contains also strings and other instruments. The pieces can be played in single manner or completely. They are well sounding, effective and good to play.

Level: medium

Why to play always a whole symphony? A single movement can convey a wonderful view into the manner of classical composition too. The three Menuets (No. 35, "Haffner-Symphony", KV 385, No. 39, "late symphony in EbMaj", KV 543  and No. 40 "great symphony in gMin", KV 550) provide this particulary. Wonderful, universally wellknown themes, in great setting and no to difficult to play. A "highlight" for your concert, used "en bloc" or single (e.g. as an surprising encore).

The Grand Valse from the first picture of "Swan Lake" in an unshortened arrangement. The instrumentation is in general equal to the original. By new keys (AMaj / F#Min -> BbMaj / GMin) the piece was considerably facilitated. Even the GbMaj in the 2nd part is well playable for an advanced youth orchestra, because the position of the string parts is quite comfortable.

Level: advanced.

Two excerpts from the famous ballet: Scene - with the wellknown Swan's Theme - and the dance of the swan maidens. The keys were adapted (half tone upwards). Therefore the pieces can be also played by a middle youth orchestra. The instrumentation is similar to the original. The important part of the harp is integrated into the piano part.

Level: medium.

Handel used many of his compositions in multiple ways - a common manner in the music of the Baroque era. The choir "And the glory, the glory of the Lord" is here in the pure instrumental arrangement of the "Concerto a due cori 1", written in 1747. In this version  the orchestra is divided in two choirs of woodwinds and a string choir with continuo.

The arrangement follows this. The first choir uses flutes & oboes the second clarinets as high voices, brass and timpani are added

Your Christmas concerto will get a special accent by this arrangement.

Level: medium

"August - Harvest" from "The seasons", op.37b

The harvest has grown,
people in families cutting the tall rye down to the root!
Put together the haystacks,
music screeching all night from the hauling carts.
(Aleksey Koltsov)

A stormy summer wind blows over the mowed fields. In a restless six-eighth time the orchestra rushes forwards.  Converse accents  increase the tension, which leads to a great cascade. In the central section a peaceful melodie in wide note values and EbMaj comes up before the piece ends in a mighty reprise.

"July - Song of the Reapers" from "The seasons", op.37b

Move the shoulders,
shake the arms!
And the noon wind
breathes in the face!
(Aleksey Koltsov)

A cheerful jubilant march is proceeding, contrasted by a more lugubrious pedal point and frequently interrupted by a little standstill. At the end the first theme fades away in pianissimo.

"June - Barcarolle" from "The seasons", op.37b

Let us go to the shore;
there the waves will kiss our feet.
With mysterious sadness
the stars will shine down on us.
(Aleksey Pleshcheyev)

The quietly flowing main theme in GMin is superseded by a second theme in GMaj , which sounds in thirds. Now a short vivid central section with rhythmical accents and a mighty increase. Then a reprise of the main theme in changed instrumentation. The end is formed by a little coda with a syncopal movement over a bordun bass.

"May - Starlit Nights" from "The seasons", op.37b

What a night!
What bliss all about!
I thank my native north country!
From the kingdom of ice,
snowstorms and snow,
how fresh and clean May flies in!
(Afanasy Fet)

Clearly drawn and impressive sounding the first theme in nine-eight time, where the beginning is played only by the wind instruments. Following a change between winds and strings (partly pizz.). The central section in minor and two-four time is more agitated and runs up to a culmination in major. At the end a reprise with reversed instrumentation which fades away in the strings (con sordino).

"April - Lilly of the Valley" from "The seasons", op.37b

The blue, pure snowdrop — flower,
and near it the last snowdrops.
The last tears over past griefs,
and first dreams of another happiness.
(Apollon Maykov)

Delicate spring rounds in six-eight time and soft BbMaj. Strings - lightly coloured with winds - play the main theme in different levels. In the middle part ascending lines of the winds rise up. They carry in a cheerful touch of spring.

"March - Song of the Lark" from "The seasons", op.37b

The field shimmering with flowers,
the stars swirling in the heavens,
the song of the lark
fills the blue abyss.
(Apollon Maykov)

A frothy tender little spring picture. Solo woodwinds convey the singing of the lark, muted strings describe the light fog in the atmosphere.

"February - Carnival" from "The seasons", op.37b

At the lively Mardi Gras
soon a large feast will overflow.
(Pyotr Vyazemsky)

Jolly moved rhythms, changing orchestal colours, varying sound intensity, many percussion instruments: That is the picture of a humorous carnival parade.

"January - At the Fireside" from "The seasons", op.37b

A little corner of peaceful bliss,
the night dressed in twilight;
the little fire is dying in the fireplace,
and the candle has burned out.
(Alexander Pushkin)

Beautiful melodies in changing instrumentation and shimmering chords  determine the beginning. In the middle the fire is flaring, sending out sparks.  A string tremolo accompanies the descending figuration of the winds. At the end the fire's glow goes out slowly, the figuration gets higher and more quietly.

"August - Harvest" from "The seasons", op.37b

The harvest has grown,
people in families cutting the tall rye down to the root!
Put together the haystacks,
music screeching all night from the hauling carts.
(Aleksey Koltsov)

A stormy summer wind blows over the mowed fields. In a restless six-eighth time the orchestra rushes forwards.  Converse accents  increase the tension, which leads to a great cascade. In the central section a peaceful melodie in wide note values and EbMaj comes up before the piece ends in a mighty reprise.

Level: advanced

"July - Song of the Reapers" from "The seasons", op.37b

Move the shoulders,
shake the arms!
And the noon wind
breathes in the face!
(Aleksey Koltsov)

A cheerful jubilant march is proceeding, contrasted by a more lugubrious pedal point and frequently interrupted by a little standstill. At the end the first theme fades away in pianissimo.

Level: medium - advanced

"June - Barcarolle" from "The seasons", op.37b

Let us go to the shore;
there the waves will kiss our feet.
With mysterious sadness
the stars will shine down on us.
(Aleksey Pleshcheyev)

The quietly flowing main theme in GMin is superseded by a second theme in GMaj , which sounds in thirds. Now a short vivid central section which rhythmical accents and a mighty increase. Then a reprise of the main theme in changed instrumentation. The end is formed by a little coda with a syncopal movement over a bordun bass.

Level: advanced

"May - Starlit Nights" from "The seasons", op.37b

What a night!
What bliss all about!
I thank my native north country!
From the kingdom of ice,
snowstorms and snow,
how fresh and clean May flies in!
(Afanasy Fet)

Clearly drawn and impressive sounding the first theme in nine-eight time, where the beginning is played only by the wind instruments. Following a change between winds and strings (partly pizz.). The central section in minor and two-four time is more agitated and runs up to a culmination in major. At the end a reprise with reversed instrumentation which fades away in the strings (con sordino).

Level: medium - advanced

"April - Lilly of the Valley" from "The seasons", op.37b

The blue, pure bluebell-flower,
and near it the last bluebells.
The last tears over past griefs,
and first dreams of another happiness.
(Apollon Maykov)

Delicate spring rounds in 6/8 time and soft BbMaj. Strings - lightly coloured with winds - play the main theme in different levels. In the middle part ascending lines of the winds rise up. They carry in a cheerful touch of spring.

Level: medium - advanced

"March - Song of the Lark" from "The seasons", op.37b

The field shimmering with flowers,
the stars swirling in the heavens,
the song of the lark
fills the blue abyss.
(Apollon Maykov)

A frothy tender little spring picture. Solo woodwinds convey the singing of the lark, muted strings describe the light fog in the atmosphere.

Level: medium - advanced

"February - Carnival" from "The seasons", op.37b

At the lively Mardi Gras
soon a large feast will overflow.
(Pyotr Vyazemsky)

Jolly moved rhythms, changing orchestal colours, varying sound intensity, many percussion instruments: That is the picture of a humorous carnival parade.

Level: medium - advanced

"January - At the Fireside" from "The seasons", op.37b

A little corner of peaceful bliss,
the night dressed in twilight;
the little fire is dying in the fireplace,
and the candle has burned out.
(Alexander Pushkin)

Beautiful melodies in changing instrumentation and shimmering chords  determine the beginning. In the middle the fire is flaring, sending out sparks.  A string tremolo accompanies the descending figuration of the winds. At the end the fire's glow goes out slowly, the figuration gets higher and more quietly. By the new key GMaj this version is easier to play.

Level: medium - advanced

Handels magnificent composition in a version for youth orchestra. The string setting is like the original, the high trumpets and horns - difficult to execute - are reinstrumentated. By using flutes and clarinets the sounding is a little bit softer, but the splendid effect and the solemn character will remain.

In the so called "dance movements" the repetitions were orchestrated in different manner to increase their colouring. 

Level: advanced

Reduced bundle price!

Handels magnificent composition in a version for youth orchestra. The string setting is like the original, the high trumpets and horns - difficult to execute - are reinstrumentated. By using flutes and clarinets the sounding is a little bit softer, but the splendid effect and the solemn character will remain.

Level: advanced