Here is a small sample for the series StartUp! with the original composition "Dear Paula". It comes from the first volume, which is meant for the very first beginning in ensemble playing.

Duration: 1:08, key F or G

Level of difficulty: very easy. The keys of this edition are suitable for wind instruments as well as strings. 

Italy, the land of longing of artists and musicians! The "Bella-Italia-Suite" was created as a tribute to our host country on the occasion of three concert tours with the "Jugendorchester Westerstede" between 1999 and 2002.

Included are arrangements of the Neapolitan song "Funiculi, funicula", the Canzona "Santa Lucia" and Verdi's Aida March. The suite was always played at the opening of our concerts and was very well received by the audience, but also by our orchestra members.

No.1, No.2: 1:40, Nr.o: 3:25

Level: medium

The selection of six solo songs creates a link from lively serenity over irony until to solemn severity. In this version for cello and string orchestra the selected song compositions get a sharply contoured sound.

1.Abendempfindung, 2. An Chloe (4:22), 3. Ridente la calma (7:00), 4. Sehnsucht nach dem Frühling (9:57), 5. Un moto di gioja (10:2), 6 Warnung (10:38).

Duet songs with piano acompagniment, full of atmosphere. Why not as an instrumental duo or in a mixed version (vocal - instrumental)? The curve of expression stretches from tender and wistful over buoyant relaxed to vigorous energetic.

For high voices, level: medium.

The first booklet of the "Songs without words" (op.19 composed about 1829-30) was initially called Melodies for the Pianoforte. The current version makes a division of the piano part into a cello and a piano voice. The keys are adjusted, the ranges of the cello are reduced.

Nr.1,  Nr.2: 4:00,  Nr.3: 6:30,  Nr.4: 9:25,  Nr.5: 12:03,  Nr.6: 16:29

This volume is intended for the very first beginning playing in an ensemble. Inside following original compositions:  Charly's Tango (1:17, gM), Dear Paula (1:08, G), Dream of Cuba (1:40, G), Minnesota Train (1:06, G), My Song (1:20, G), Royal Garden (1:15, G).

Level: very easy, the keys of this edition are more suitable for strings.

More pieces for the very first beginning playing in an ensemble. Inside following original compositions: Birthday Greetings (0:52, G), Clara's Waltz (0:49, C), Early Morning (1:34, G), Little Fandango (1:07, gM), One Night in Rio (1:01, dM), Sunset on the beach (1:57, G).

Level: very easy, the keys of this edition are more suitable for strings.

International Christmas songs for the first beginning playing in an ensemble. Inside following original compositions:Campana Sobre Campana (Spanien, 0:48, G), Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris (Frankreich, 1:15, eM), Go tell it to the mountain (USA, 1:26, G), Les Anges dans nos campagnes (Frankreich, 1:43, G), Tu scendi dalle stelle (Italien, 0:52, G), We wish you a merry Christmas (England, 1:03, G).

In each arrangement you will find a vocal part (soprano) with all poems in the original language. So a little choir ca be integrated in.

Level: very easy - easy, the keys of this edition are more suitable for strings.

The present edition refers to Grieg's own instrumentation, published as op. 56 in 1892. The three-part prelude "In der Königshalle" begins with an interesting, metrically ambiguous theme, followed by a lyrical middle section. The recapitulation of the opening forms the conclusion. In the intermezzo "Borghild's Dream", a threatening image is built up that is contrasted by a sudden outburst. The "Huldigungsmarsch" is a warlike piece with memorable melody and tonal intensification. 

The version was facilitated by the choice of new keys and instrumental details.

Level: medium - advanced

Bartok's Original was created in 1915 as a seven-part piano suite based on his own folk song collections in Transylvania, today Romania. This was followed by another version for small orchestra. Here is a version for youth orchestra with facilitations and changed keys. Some sections were repeated with modified instrumentation to increase the effect. A large number of percussion instruments (3 players) accentuate the rhythmic element and bring further colours of sound into play.

Level: medium - advanced

1. Jocul cu bâta, 2. Brâul (02:30), 3. Pe Loc (03:05), 4. Buciumeana (04:00), 5. Poarga românesca (05:25), 6. Mâruntel (06:03), 7. Mâruntel (06:35)

Although the opus number is higher than that of the violin romance in G major, Beethoven probably already wrote this piece in 1798. The original one-voice solo instrument was supplemented in many ways to form a piano movement. Missing dynamics were applied, the instrumentation slightly expanded. Here, too, there are similar pedagogical intentions as in the Romance op.50 in G major: a quite easily playable piece for your orchestra pianist in the style of the Viennese Classic.

Level:  medium

The "Pas de deux" from Act 2 is one of the highlights of the entire Nutcracker Ballet. The quite simple main theme - actually a falling octave - is increased in many ways and led to a finale. In this version the instrumentation is smoothed out a little and made easier. Most important is the piano part, which replaces the original 2 harps. However, the grandiose effect of the whole piece is still preserved.

Level: medium - advanced

Two nice, well playable movements from Grieg's suite "in the old style". Originally written for piano, the composer has created a very sophisticated version for string orchestra, which is best known. The present arrangement is based on this and supplements the string parts with various instrumental aspects by the wind instruments. The repetitions are mostly composed out of the original and some facilitations in the string section are present.

Level: medium

About a very simple cadence in ostinato a very manifold colourful chain of variations arises. It is interrupted by a little "Trio" of the woodwinds in the middle of the piece and continued in the Da-Capo by new variations. A very large increase of the tutti orchestra with the whole brass represents the conclusion. Particulary important: the piano part as an exciting task for your piano player. Altogether a charming and - in a not to fast tempo - well playable piece.

Level: medium - advanced

A poet's love is a cycle of 16 songs by the composer Robert Schumann, whose Opus 48 was one of the highlights of the romantic art song. The cycle was written in 1840 for poems from Heinrich Heine's "Lyrisches Intermezzo", a collection of 65 poems that had appeared in tragedies together with a lyrical intermezzo in 1823, then in the Book of Songs in 1827. Of the 20 songs composed, 16 were finally printed.
Here is a version for soprano and string orchestra with completely new sound aspects.
1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai, 2. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen (1:15), 3. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube (2:15), 4. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh (2:50), 5. Ich will meine Seele tauchen (4:16), 6. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome (5:08), 7. Ich grolle nicht (7:09), 8. Und wüßten's die Blumen (8:49)

A poet's love is a cycle of 16 songs by the composer Robert Schumann, whose Opus 48 was one of the highlights of the romantic art song. The cycle was written in 1840 for poems from Heinrich Heine's "Lyrisches Intermezzo", a collection of 65 poems that had appeared in tragedies together with a lyrical intermezzo in 1823, then in the Book of Songs in 1827. Of the 20 songs composed, 16 were finally printed.
Here is a version for soprano and string orchestra with completely new sound aspects.
9. Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen, 10. Hör ich das Liedchen klingen (1:27), 11. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen (2:54), 12. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen (3:54), 13. Ich hab im Traum geweinet (5:58), 14. Allnächtlich im Traume (7: 53), 15. Aus alten Märchen winkt es (8:57), 16. Die alten, bösen Lieder (11:14)

A poet's love is a cycle of 16 songs by the composer Robert Schumann, whose Opus 48 was one of the highlights of the romantic art song. The cycle was written in 1840 for poems from Heinrich Heine's "Lyrisches Intermezzo", a collection of 65 poems that had appeared in tragedies together with a lyrical intermezzo in 1823, then in the Book of Songs in 1827. Of the 20 songs composed, 16 were finally printed.
Here is a version for clarinet or viola and string orchestra with completely new sound aspects.
1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai, 2. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen (1:15), 3. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube (2:15), 4. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh (2:50), 5. Ich will meine Seele tauchen (4:16), 6. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome (5:08), 7. Ich grolle nicht (7:09), 8. Und wüßten's die Blumen (8:49)
 

A poet's love is a cycle of 16 songs by the composer Robert Schumann, whose Opus 48 was one of the highlights of the romantic art song. The cycle was written in 1840 for poems from Heinrich Heine's "Lyrisches Intermezzo", a collection of 65 poems that had appeared in tragedies together with a lyrical intermezzo in 1823, then in the Book of Songs in 1827. Of the 20 songs composed, 16 were finally printed.
Here is a version for clarinet or viola and string orchestra with completely new sound aspects.
9. Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen, 10. Hör ich das Liedchen klingen (1:27), 11. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen (2:54), 12. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen (3:54), 13. Ich hab im Traum geweinet (5:58), 14. Allnächtlich im Traume (7: 53), 15. Aus alten Märchen winkt es (8:57), 16. Die alten, bösen Lieder (11:14)

The 2nd dance from op. 72 is a Starodávny (slow dance in 3/4 time, "in the old style"). The original E minor was changed to G minor, numerous simplifications in instrumentation and setting facilitate the arrangement.

Level: advanced

For the fifth dance from op.72 Dvorak chooses a "Spacirka". The first part is solemnly walking, followed by a cheerful jumping dance. Both groups can be heard twice in a row. In this arrangement the keys were simplified (Bb minor to B minor, F sharp minor to G minor) and some changes were made to the setting and instrumentation. This makes this version much easier to play than the original.

Level: advanced

Dvorak opens the first collection of his Slavic dances opus 46 with a Furiant (fast dance in three-four time with inserted hemiolas).
The arrangement for youth orchestra is based on the original, but brings some relief through a new key (B flat major instead of C major), slightly changed instrumentation and setting.

Level: advanced

After the great success of the Slavonic dances op. 46 from 1878, Dvorak composed a new series in 1886. Here from it the last piece, a Sousedská (medium-fast Bohemian folk dance in 3/4 time). The present arrangement uses a new key (G instead of A flat), slight changes in instrumentation and setting contribute to simplification.

Level: advanced

The world-famous "Hallelujah" from Handel's "Messiah" in a version for youth orchestra. Even without a choir, this piece is extraordinarily effective. The key was lightened a little, the instrumental instrumentation filled up.

Not only at Christmas your concert gets a special accent with this piece.

Level: medium

Vivaldi's well-known "Beginner's Concerto" for violin from the collection "L'estro armonico" (op.3,3, G major) in a version for cello and string orchestra. The work was transposed a fifth down to C major, so that the fingering of the solo part corresponds exactly to that of the violin. The orchestral part has been adapted accordingly. An attractive task for young cello students!

The solo part with simple piano accompaniment is included for practice.

Key: Cmaj, Level: medium

Another "light" concerto for violin from the collection "L'estro armonico" (op.3,6, A minor) in a version for cello and string orchestra. The work was transposed a fifth down to D minor, so that the fingering of the solo part corresponds exactly to that of the violin. The orchestral part has been adapted accordingly. An attractive task for young cello students!

The solo part with simple piano accompaniment is included for practice.

Key: Dmin, Level: medium

Mendelssohn wrote "Six Preludes and Fugues for Piano" op. 35 in 1831 and 1837, although some of the fugues were written much earlier than the respective preludes. These works are permeated by the 'spirit' of Bach, by the creative engagement with the organ and piano works of the Thomaskantor. At the same time, they are highly original, original works by a Romantic composer.
This is a version of the sixth piece for youth orchestra, which emphasizes the tonal intensity and vocal variety in colorful setting.

Level: advanced.

Carl Maria von Weber used a Chinese theme from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Dictionnaire de musique for his Chinese overture, written in 1805. Weber's friend, the composer Franz Danzi, employed as Kapellmeister at the Stuttgart court, encouraged him to write some music for a performance of Schiller's play at the court theatre. The result was his 1809 drama music for Turandot, in which the Chinese overture was integrated

The title "Annen-Polka" refers to the popular 'Annenfest' in Vienna on the occasion of St. Anne's Day on July 26th. Johann Strauss (jr.) composed a polka for this occasion in 1852 and dedicated it to the then empress of Austria, Maria Anna (1803 - 1884). Here the version for orchestra in original key.

After the long-lasting worldwide success of the operetta "Die lustige Witwe", premiered in 1905, Lehar published a series with the most famous waltzes of this work under the name "Sirens of the Ball" a few years later. The melody "Lippen schweigen" dominates with repeated repetitions, but also a title like "Heut geh' ich zu Maxim" is included.

Here a version for youth orchestra, which is based on the original. Additional instruments and a slightly changed instrumentation create a more facilitated version.

This piece is suitable not only for a New Year's concert, but for many occasions. Let yourself be enchanted by the wonderful sounds!

Level: advanced

The Concert March was composed in the summer of 1869 in Pavlovsk near St. Petersburg, where the Strauss Chapel was frequently present for concerts. Originally known as the "Circassian March", today's name has become established, probably as a result of the simultaneous opening of the Suez Canal.
Here a version of the charming piece with foreign coloring (large percussion instrumentation!). The piece was facilitated by a new key and changes in the instrumentation.

Level: advanced