Arlington Sketches: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Del Borgo's gift for rhythmic vitality paired with genuine harmonic interest makes this piece sustain attention through multiple rehearsals. The contrasting middle section gives you real work to do on sound quality and voice independence, which means your students leave rehearsal having addressed something meaningful rather than just running through notes.

Arlington Sketches pulses with rhythmic energy in its outer sections, offering the kind of forward momentum that makes orchestras feel confident and alive. The quieter middle creates breathing room and invites listeners into richer harmonic territory before the piece kicks back into gear.

Grade 3 orchestras ready to move beyond simple rhythmic figures into pieces that demand coordination and tonal awareness. This works for programs seeking a strong contest selection or a concert closer that showcases rhythmic maturity without requiring advanced techniques.

• Lock the rhythmic figures in the opening section during sectionals before bringing the full orchestra together. The excitement comes from precision, not speed.
• In the contrasting middle section, prioritize listening across sections rather than internal balance. Viola and cello lines need definition against the higher voices.
• Shape the harmonic progressions by teaching the ensemble to hear chord movement, not just play their individual lines. This transforms the middle section from technically correct to musically alive.
• Return to the opening material with slightly increased intensity after the middle section. The restatement should feel earned, not simply repeated.

This sits naturally in a mixed concert as a strong full-orchestra moment that audiences find immediately engaging. Its grade 3 foundation also makes it reliable for festival competition, where you need something polished but not so demanding that rehearsal time derails other repertoire.

• Coordinating rhythmic figures across multiple sections
• Listening for balance and blend in contrasting textures
• Following harmonic progression by ear
• Sustaining intensity through rhythmic material
• Ensemble intonation in dialogue-based writing