Peer Gynt Incidental Music Suite Set 1 for String Orchestra: String Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts

This collection gives string orchestras access to some of the most recognizable moments in classical music—pieces your audience will know and love. The StringMasters arrangement by Steven Rosenhaus preserves Grieg's orchestral color while scaling the writing thoughtfully for string ensembles; years of testing with actual orchestras means the parts sit comfortably under the hand and the score conducts cleanly. Programming these four selections together creates a satisfying arc that showcases different moods while maintaining musical cohesion.

These movements transport you from the intimate quiet of a forest to the glittering exoticism of Anitra's seduction, then into the thunderous, darkly comic chaos of the Mountain King's palace. Grieg's orchestrations shimmer with color—unexpected harmonic turns, distinctive rhythmic motifs, and a gift for making simple melodies feel both folk-like and sophisticated.

String orchestras at the intermediate to advanced level (grades 9-12, college community ensembles, and adult groups) looking for substantial repertoire that challenges musicianship without requiring years of polishing. Directors seeking pieces with immediate concert appeal and strong audience recognition will find a reliable standard here.

• Balance the multiple melodic lines that Grieg layers throughout these pieces; the string section has the resources to sing several voices at once, so mark your inner parts with intention and rehearse them independently before balancing against the principal melody.
• Let the harmonic rhythm breathe, especially in the slower movements like Solveig's Dance. Grieg's block harmonies are intentional; resist the urge to rush into the next chord change.
• Pay attention to the pizzicato sections in In The Hall Of The Mountain King. They drive the piece forward rhythmically and need clean articulation and unified timing across all players.
• Use dynamic contrast to shape each movement's character. Anitra's Dance profits from subtle swells and pulls in dynamics that reflect the melodic shape and harmonic motion rather than playing at a single level.

Open a winter or spring concert with this suite as a complete four-movement work; the contrasting moods and manageable duration make it an ideal centerpiece for a program. Alternatively, program individual movements as palette cleansers between heavier contemporary works or use In The Hall Of The Mountain King as a crowd-pleasing finale.

• Playing multiple voices with independence and clarity within the string choir
• Executing clear pizzicato articulation at varied tempos
• Shaping Romantic-era melody through phrasing and dynamic nuance
• Responding to subtle harmonic movement and understanding voice leading
• Building ensemble cohesion across complex rhythmic figures and syncopation