Symphony No 2 in A Major: String Orchestra Conductor Score

McCashin's mastery of string writing shines throughout this arrangement. The alternating tutti and concertino texture gives you genuine flexibility in casting, allowing you to spotlight your strongest players while keeping everyone engaged, and the Grade 3 difficulty makes it accessible without sacrificing musical substance.

Boyce's melodic gift comes through in this arrangement with elegant phrasing and Baroque sensibility. The dialogue between soloists and ensemble creates conversational warmth, inviting the listener into the intimacy of a chamber work that can expand to fill a concert hall.

String orchestras at the Grade 3 level that want to program a recognized classical work while giving principal players a chance to shine. This score works equally well in chamber settings and larger ensembles, making it adaptable to your specific instrumentation and performance context.

• Balance the concertino voices against the tutti; the soloists should sing through naturally without requiring excessive projection from the ensemble.
• Establish clear articulation patterns between sections early in rehearsal, especially where the texture shifts from full orchestra to smaller groupings.
• Experiment with both performance options (soloists within the ensemble or separated) during dress rehearsals to determine which configuration best showcases your players and acoustics.

Program this as a stylistic bridge between Baroque repertoire and Romantic-era works, or pair it with other Grade 3 string pieces to build a thematically cohesive concert. The manageable length and flexible instrumentation make it ideal for mid-season programming when you want to feature soloists without derailing ensemble continuity.

• Baroque ornamentation and period-appropriate articulation
• Balancing solo voices within an ensemble texture
• Responding to the conductor's cues during shifts between tutti and concertino sections
• Sustaining tone quality and intonation in exposed passage work