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String Orchestra - Advanced Intermediate - Digital Download
Composed by Claude Debussy and arranged by Martin Lass (ASCAP)

Genre: Classical (Impressionistic, 20th century)

Score, Set of Parts. 32 pages.

Published by MA Lass & I Lass.

In this Level 3.0 (Intermediate) String Orchestra arrangement, Martin Lass has arranged Claude Debussy's piano piece, "Serenade of the Doll" from his "Children's Corner" suite (L. 113) for student string orchestra.

"Children's Corner" is a six-piece suite originally written for solo piano in 1908 and later orchestrated by André Caplet in 1911. Debussy dedicated the suite to his daughter, Claude-Emma (known as "Chou-Chou"), who was born on 30 October 1905 in Paris. She is described as a lively and friendly child who was adored by her father. She was three years old when he dedicated the suite to her in 1908. The dedication reads: "To my dear little Chou-Chou, with tender apologies from her father for what follows."

The main challenges of this piece are in capturing its grace and charm, in achieving the optimum balance between melodic and accompaniment parts, and in observing well all the varied articulations and dynamics, which are very specific and meticulous.

To accommodate textural variety and subtlety, all instruments except the double bass are split into two parts, each with their own stave. These parts are intended to be split (divisi) at the desk.  The key of the piece has been changed in this arrangement to D major from its original key of E major. This is a better key for a student orchestra, and it also works much better for strings, as it allows for the use of certain natural harmonics and open strings.

Duration: 2m 40s