Fantasy on Aloha 'Oe: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Fantasy on Aloha 'Oe: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Fantasy on Aloha 'Oe: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50718
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Queen Lili'uokalani / arr. Brian Balmages

Grade: 2

Item: 00-50718

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This gorgeous fantasy is based on the well-known Hawaiian song Aloha 'Oe, written by Queen Lili'uokalani. Translated as "Farewell to Thee," Fantasy on Aloha 'Oe works extremely well both as a lyrical portion of a program or as a part of an emotional send-off to celebrate graduating students. Brian Balmages has done a masterful job intertwining beautiful harmonic twists in a work that is extremely accessible to younger students, yet sounds mature enough to be enjoyed by more accomplished ensembles. Absolutely stunning. (4:00)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fantasy on Aloha 'Oe: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: MakeMusic Intermediate Strings

Publisher: MakeMusic Publications

ISBN10: 1-4706-6362-7

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6362-9

UPC: 038081580708

SKU: 00-50718

More about this title

About the Composer: Queen Lil'uokalani

Queen Lili'uokalani (1838-1917) was Hawaii's last reigning monarch and a skilled musician who composed over 150 works during her lifetime. She wrote "Aloha 'Oe" in 1878, creating one of the most recognizable melodies in Hawaiian music and a song that carries deep cultural significance as a farewell anthem.

Beyond her royal duties, Lili'uokalani was a serious student of Western classical music, a harp and piano player, and a cultural ambassador who used music to preserve and celebrate Hawaiian identity during a pivotal moment in the islands' history. Her compositions blend Hawaiian melodic sensibility with Western harmonic traditions, making her work enduringly relevant to music educators seeking repertoire that honors diverse cultural voices.

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Why we love this

Brian Balmages captures the emotional core of this iconic melody while giving young orchestras the harmonic sophistication and orchestral color they crave. The Grade 2 accessibility means your ensemble can sound genuinely beautiful without drowning in technical hurdles, and the four-minute length makes it a powerful anchor for any concert program or moving tribute to departing students.

What to expect

Graceful and deeply expressive, this arrangement wraps a beloved Hawaiian melody in warm, accessible harmonies that feel both familiar and freshly imagined. The orchestration invites younger players into a lyrical soundscape where restraint and beauty matter more than virtuosity.

Who it's for

String orchestras in Grades 2-3 looking for repertoire that delivers real emotional impact without requiring advanced technical facility. This works equally well for advanced elementary or middle school ensembles who want to perform something with genuine maturity and cultural substance.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the main melody with consistent vibrato in the first violins; let the phrase breathe naturally rather than rushing toward the cadences.
Balance the harmonic voices underneath the tune so they support rather than overshadow the vocal quality of the primary line.
Use subtle dynamic shaping within phrases rather than sudden drops to maintain the lyrical flow across the entire piece.
Honor the cultural significance of the melody by rehearsing with awareness of its context as a farewell; this emotional intention translates directly to the ensemble's sound.

How to use it

This is an ideal centerpiece for any concert celebrating transitions: spring concerts, graduation ceremonies, or year-end performances where you want to honor departing students or mark a significant moment. The Grade 2 level also makes it suitable for festival competitions seeking an emotionally resonant contemporary arrangement.