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A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody: String Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score & Parts

$42.00 USD
$42.00 USD
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A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody Cover Image
A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody: String Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score & Parts

A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody: String Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score & Parts

By Irving Berlin, ed./arr. by Mike Lewis

Grade: 4

Item: 36-M806490
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Description
This familiar tune by Irving Berlin became the signature theme song for "The Ziegfeld Follies." It's truly a classic standard that adds a nostalgic touch to any concert program.

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Additional Details
Series: Master Orchestra Series - LudwigMasters
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-62156-696-X
ISBN13: 978-1-62156-696-0
SKU: 36-M806490
Instrumentation: String Orchestra

More about this title

About the Composer: Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin (1888-1989) stands as one of the most prolific and commercially successful songwriters in American history. Born in Russia and arriving in New York as a child, Berlin taught himself piano and went on to compose over 1,000 songs, many of which became standards that defined popular music for generations. His gift lay not in formal training but in an intuitive understanding of melody, simplicity, and emotional directness.

Berlin's career spanned nearly eight decades and encompassed everything from Broadway musicals to Hollywood film scores to patriotic anthems. "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" exemplifies his gift for creating instantly memorable, singable melodies that lodge themselves in the listener's mind. His influence on American music education is substantial; his works remain staples of performance curricula because they combine accessibility with genuine sophistication.

Why we love this

This arrangement brings a beloved American standard into the string orchestra setting without sacrificing the tune's irresistible charm. The Grade 4 scoring by Mike Lewis opens the piece to orchestras ready for fuller textures and richer voicing while keeping the beloved melody front and center, making it an ideal choice for concerts seeking to program something both audience-friendly and musically substantial.

What to expect

Warm and instantly recognizable, this arrangement glows with the elegance of a classic American songbook standard. The string orchestration gives the familiar melody an intimate yet full-bodied sound, evoking the sophistication of early 20th-century theater while remaining effortlessly listenable.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the intermediate-advanced level looking for accessible repertoire with genuine appeal to audiences. This piece suits orchestras balancing concert programs that include both contemporary selections and beloved standards, and works equally well for programs featuring American musical heritage.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the main melody with a singing quality that mirrors the song's origins; the orchestration should breathe like a vocalist would, using natural phrase lengths to guide your bowing and articulation choices.
  • Balance the melodic line against the accompaniment carefully so accompaniment figures support rather than compete, particularly in passages where the melody passes between sections.
  • Honor the nostalgic character by avoiding an overly brisk tempo; allow space for the tune to resonate and let audiences recognize and enjoy the familiar melody.

How to use it

Program this as a palate-cleanser between weightier works, or pair it with other American standards and show tunes for a concert celebrating accessible melody and songwriting craft. Its nostalgic appeal makes it particularly effective in programs aimed at community audiences or multigenerational concert settings.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining long, singing melodic lines across string sections
  • Balancing accompaniment textures with primary thematic material
  • Shaping phrasing in a vocal style idiom applied to orchestral writing
  • Managing rhythmic coordination across multiple string parts in standard harmonic progressions

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