Glen Hansard is an Irish musician and actor best known as the frontman of The Frames and for his role in the film Once, where he performed alongside Marketa Irglova. Marketa Irglova is a Czech musician and composer who collaborated with Hansard on the Once soundtrack, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. Together, they created a body of work that bridges indie folk authenticity with accessible songwriting, making their compositions valuable additions to contemporary music curricula.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the intimate, acoustic character that made the original resonate with audiences worldwide, while remaining practical for student ensembles. The two-page format keeps rehearsal time efficient without sacrificing the emotional arc that makes the song memorable. String players get to inhabit genuinely moving material instead of fighting through generic filler.
What to expect
Quiet and contemplative, with an underlying current of longing. The arrangement builds gradually from sparse textures into something fuller, but never loses its vulnerability. It feels like an honest conversation rather than a performance.
Who it's for
This works for intermediate to advanced high school orchestras, chamber groups, or string quartets looking to expand beyond classical repertoire. It's equally valuable for students exploring contemporary songwriting, film music, and how instrumental arrangements honor vocal originals.
How to get the most out of it
Resist the urge to rush; the song's power comes from space and restraint between phrases rather than momentum.
Balance your intonation carefully during the slower passages where vibrato becomes more noticeable and every pitch matters.
Work dynamics from the inside out, building from what each line needs rather than applying uniform swells across the ensemble.
Let the melody breathe by keeping accompaniment voices light and supportive, never competing for attention.
How to use it
Program this alongside other contemporary film scores or acoustic-based works to show how modern compositions can sit meaningfully in a classical concert. It's particularly effective as a transition piece between heavier works or as a closing selection that leaves audiences in a reflective mood.
Skills your students will build
Playing with dynamic restraint and control in soft passages
Responding to rubato and flexible phrasing without losing ensemble cohesion
Balancing melody and accompaniment roles within a small ensemble texture
Sustaining tone quality and intonation over longer note values
Interpreting contemporary songwriting through instrumental arrangement
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