Music from La La Land: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Robert Longfield's arrangement captures the warmth and sophistication of Hurwitz's original orchestrations while tailoring them brilliantly for strings. Your students will feel the cinematic scope of this music; there's real dramatic arc across these four selections, from the infectious energy of 'Another Day of Sun' through the introspective beauty of 'Mia and Sebastian's Theme.' Audiences leave these performances emotionally satisfied and often surprised by how much orchestral depth a film score can contain.

Warm, cinematic, and genuinely romantic. The music captures the dreamy quality of Los Angeles at night, the nervousness of artistic ambition, and the ache of hope. Strings sing these melodies with an almost vocal quality, inviting listeners into intimate moments between characters before opening up into lush, orchestral expanses.

String orchestras at the upper intermediate level (grades 3 and 4) seeking repertoire that connects with current students and audiences. This arrangement works equally well for ensembles building concert programs with contemporary appeal or those wanting to explore film scoring as a genre.

• Balance the exposed melodic lines carefully. Pasek's melodies are conversational and intimate; let them breathe rather than overwhelm the accompaniment.
• Pay close attention to the harmonic movement in 'City of Stars.' The shifting colors and subtle key changes demand clean voice leading from your section principals.
• Shape phrases with the film's pacing in mind. These arrangements maintain the emotional logic of the originals, so resist the urge to over-dramatize; let the music's inherent lyricism speak first.
• Use the moderate grade level to your advantage by focusing rehearsal time on musical clarity rather than technical gymnastics. The writing rewards thoughtful interpretation from musicians at this level.

Consider pairing this with other contemporary film scores or musical theater arrangements to create a cohesive half of your concert that showcases how orchestration serves storytelling. The 4:55 duration makes it ideal for filling programming needs without overshadowing other selections. This works especially well in spring concerts aimed at families and younger audiences who already know and love the film.

• Sustaining lyrical phrasing across longer melodic lines
• Voicing secondary harmonies with clarity and intonation control
• Responding to dynamic nuance and color changes within diatonic harmony
• Coordinating entrances and sectional balance in homophonic texture
• Expressing emotional content through bow control and vibrato management