Blog

List Updates:

Personal List: 410 (+18)

Full List: 1008 (+287)

Misc. Ideas:

It's been a while since my last update, but there have been a lot of changes to the lists since then. I decided a while ago not to do monthly updates just because my life got busy enough to where it became a burden, and I wanted to keep this project as something that I enjoy doing. Since my last update, I amassed 16 volunteers to help catalogue works and in the process have added nearly 300 works to the list (pushing the total count to over a thousand). I have also developed an entirely new website that makes the lists much more user friendly. This update includes the addition of a live statistics page and a search system to make the lists more navigable. I hope to continue this project for a good bit into the future, and I hope anyone taking the time to read this blog finds my resources useful.

String Orchestra Works of the Month:

Muse – Christopher Theofanidis (2007) ~5.5-6

Performed here by the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Muse is a work I keep coming back to. Theofanidis has a gift for writing music that feels both modern and immediately approachable, and this piece is no exception, moving from driving rhythmic energy to soaring lyrical writing for the whole ensemble. It is also a great example of repertoire that sits comfortably with advanced youth orchestras while still being rewarding for professional groups.

List Updates:

Personal List: 405 (+13)

Full List: 738 (+17)

Idea:

This is not a full blog post but rather a precursor to an event. On 1/16/26 I am hosting a volunteer event for people to gather information on educational string orchestra works by historically underrepresented composers. The lists will be updated promptly afterwards.

List Updates:

Personal List: 392 (+16)

Full List: 721 (+22)

Misc. Ideas:

This was a fruitful month for my music exploration. First, I became aware of the SOUNZ center for New Zealand music which has been great for discovering new pieces. In this time I have also been looking more and more at finding and discovering music completely encased by different languages (at this time mostly Latin American and East Asian) with the help of Google Translate. Although Google Translate isn't a perfect tool, it is always fun to find music that would have otherwise been unnoticed by English speakers. There is also a good bit of mixed content where both languages are in the title or recording of the work.

String Orchestra Works of the Month:

Korean Simple Suite, Op. 267B for String Orchestra, 세계초연 – Han-Ki Kim ~5-5.5

This is another contemporary work that truly speaks to me. It is a collection of 5 traditional Korean melodies adapted for string orchestra. It is not too experimental for those who like more traditional string orchestra works, and it has riveting 1st and 5th movements with excellent middle movements as well.

High Windows – Christopher Cerrone ~6

This is one of my favorite contemporary works from an amazing contemporary composer. High Windows meshes old and new to create a beautiful work that projects into the far reaches of concert halls, especially the churches for which the piece was composed. Hearing it in person is an unforgettable experience that will surely leave an impression.

Non-String Orchestra Work of the Month:

Sound and Fury – Anna Clyne

I have a lot of favorites but trust me when I say Anna Clyne is one of the best. I love her string orchestra music, and her work "Sound and Fury" is a great chamber orchestra work that utilizes both strings and other instruments to create a cohesive and fascinating experience. It is a very difficult work especially for large orchestras but NYO-USA plays it very well in this recording.

List Updates:

Personal List: 376 (+32)

Full List: 699 (+36)

Misc. Ideas:

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String Orchestra Works of the Month:

3 Pieces for Guitar & Strings – Yvette Young (2023) ~5.5-6

This piece represents a unique combination of electric guitar and strings for a beautiful and touching work that seamlessly puts together classical strings and modern rock. Also of note: The Next Festival of Emerging Artists is a great program and has done wonders for the contemporary music scene.

Eagle Huntress – Sam Wu (2024) ~5-5.5

Written for a private school consortium orchestra from Asia, this work imitates traditional Mongolian instruments and style in a breathtaking fashion. I found out about this through one of my friends at one of the participating schools and have been entranced by it since. I am excited that a local ensemble near me has decided to play it and I can't wait to watch. The composer is incredibly talented and has a good selection of other works: I have heard great things about him.

Non-String Orchestra Work of the Month:

Viola Concerto – Christian Colberg

I follow the Sphinx Organization a lot and seeing this performance for the first time was wonderful. A great composition and performance.

List Updates:

Personal List: 344 (+0)

Full List: 666 (+0)

Misc. Ideas:

Welcome! This is my inaugural blog post and through it I hope to inspire and provide my perspective on a monthly basis along with updates for the string lists. I have loved every step of creating these lists and I wish for everyone who can utilize them to feel the same way. I don't have too much to say for this first post, but I hope you spend some time to watch these highlighted suggestions:

String Orchestra Works of the Month:

Syrian Dances for String Orchestra – Kinan Azmeh (2023) ~6-6+

I came across this work while listening through all of Palaver Strings' recordings. The group is a very talented conductor-less ensemble in Maine that is dedicated to expanding music access and education to as wide a range as possible (already points in my book). They have done multiple commissions and play a very good + diverse collection of repertoire including the Syrian Dances for String Orchestra. The composer (Kinan Azmeh) is a clarinet player originally from Syria who also has many other great pieces. He describes the piece as being very similar to Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances: "I am trying to bring some more attention to these folk tunes from home without being direct about it, by presenting them in a new way. They are not exactly arrangements of scenic folk tunes but pieces inspired by them." All 4 movements are lovely with the 3rd movement being very fun and my personal favorite.

Nazca – Sergio Cervetti (2010) ~6

Another more recent work, Sergio Cervetti's Nazca is a beautiful five-movement tone poem for String Orchestra. I forget exactly how I found this, but the instantly captivating first movement along with a ghostly 4th and well-done 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, make this a beautiful work to listen to.

Two Aquarelles for String Orchestra – Frederick Delius (1932) ~5

Two contrasting movements make for a beautiful and contemplative work. I am personally a big fan of English string orchestra music, and this is no different. Some may rate this a good bit easier; the notes themselves are fairly easy, but I believe the musicianship required to play it is reflected more in the 5-grade range.