Born To Be Wild: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Arranger Larry Moore captures everything that made the original irresistible while writing specifically for young string players. The open 5th harmony and foundational bass riff give students a visceral connection to rock arranging principles, and the combination of accessibility with genuine musical sophistication means they're playing real music, not a simplified knockoff.

Rebellious and propulsive. The arrangement maintains the swagger of the original while channeling it through instruments that bring a brighter, more articulate quality to the sound. When your ensemble nails it, they'll experience that rush of playing something cool that actually matters.

String orchestras in grades 3 and 4 looking for repertoire that feels contemporary and alive. Players at this level have the technical foundation to handle the rhythmic precision and harmonic layering without drowning in complexity.

• Lock the bass line (cellos and basses) into a tight, driving groove from the first run-through. This riff is the song's heartbeat, and if it wavers, the entire arrangement loses its swagger.
• Shape the melodic hook with confidence in the violins. The line needs to feel like it's floating above the rhythmic foundation, not competing with it.
• Lean into the drum breaks. These moments give the ensemble permission to breathe and reset, and they're often where the energy builds toward the next section.
• Balance the open 5th harmonies carefully so they ring without becoming muddy. Clarity here will highlight how economical and powerful the harmonic writing actually is.

This works beautifully on a pops concert or as a surprising opener that captures attention immediately. It can also anchor a "rock through the ages" program or provide a contemporary counterpoint to classical selections, showing audiences that string players do far more than Bach and Mozart.

• Maintaining a steady rhythmic pulse and driving groove in a contemporary style
• Balancing melody against strong harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment
• Playing with articulation and phrasing that serve a rock sensibility rather than classical legato
• Reading and executing open 5th voicings with clarity and resonance
• Responding to drum breaks and ensemble cues across a narrative arc