Martini Strings

I'm incredibly pleased to announce four new String Orchestra titles in store today, ranging from Grade 2 to 4, all tried and tested. 2015 was a very busy year! If you have intermediate to advancing ensembles, check out these pieces for some fresh melodies. Available to be shipped nationally and internationally, purchase your copy today!

"Drought" conjures up images of baking plains and hot summer days; lots of harmonics and intricate harmonies. Chosen because of an integral bowing which is very useful for developing string players, "Variations on a Sea Shanty" takes a well-known sea shanty and explores a variety of melodic and rhythmic options. "Pizzicato Rush!" is a great little encore piece which is over in a flash but leaves you out of breath on the other side. "Rainstorm" is a piece in 6/8 time, depicting the arrival, intensity and passing of a tropical rain storm. 

I hope you find something here that suits your ensemble!

Martini Strings is proud to have been the selected artist for this year's Friendship Lunch for the War Widows' Guild of Qld. This is an annual lunch hosted by a different branch each year, and was extremely well attended. MC'd by the wonderful Kay McGrath, the luncheon was full of love and laughter as friendships were formed and strengthened, even by those who only see other at these fabulous events.

We were very pleased to have been able to provide the entertainment for this lunch, playing as a string quartet. Many thanks to the War Widows' Guild of Qld!

I am very excited to announce that my catalogue of original String Orchestra compositions is now available for purchase here in my store! Each piece is lovingly crafted to help you get the best sound from your ensemble, and every pack comes complete with a Conductor's Score and a full set of parts.

I have been composing for student ensembles for over 10 years now, and am finally finding my way to making my compositions publicly available. A number of them have already been performed by school ensembles around Brisbane, Qld, and I'm looking forward to contributing further to the repertoire for young string players. You never know, a few solo pieces might pop in here and there...

Payment can be made via Paypal, and you don't even need a PayPal account. Please allow up to a week for postage and handling, and tell your string-teaching friends! Audio samples are coming...

Now that the paperwork is out of the way, it's time to celebrate! It's amazing how music can enhance the atmosphere of a special occasion, and you don't want to miss a moment to make this a memorable day.

As always, consider the style of ceremony you have just created and choose something to be played as you exit and greet your guests that speaks to that style or flavour, something that makes sense following your other choices. If you've made traditional choices up till now, it's probably best to stay there, and likewise for the more casual style. Here are some suggestions.

For a Formal or Traditional ceremony:

• La Rejouissance from the Fireworks Suite (Handel)
• Spring, from the Fours Seasons (Vivaldi)
• Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)

For a Casual or Contemporary ceremony:

• What a Wonderful World (Armstrong)
• Dare You to Move (Switchfoot)
• The Rose (McBroom)

This is now the time you have to greet your guests before any formal reception later on. It's great to have some background music while you're catching up with everyone, so make sure you factor that into your planning. A 1-hour booking will only just cover your ceremony, but 1.5 hours will give you just that little bit of extra music to keep the celebration going. If you're having drinks or canapés at the ceremony site, why not have music for that time too? Every little bit helps to make your day memorable and special. Again, if you have any favourites that you don't see on our list, we are always more than happy to source or write arrangements for you. Time is essential, so 4-6weeks notice is a minimum, and there is a small fee for special arrangements, but it's definitely worth personalising your day so it's as meaningful as possible for you.

Hopefully these articles have been helpful, and feel free to contact us if you want to talk about anything regarding music for your wedding!

• "Air on the G-string" (Bach)
• Romance from "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (Mozart)
• Menuett (Boccherini)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
• Andante from Divertimento in D major K136 (Mozart)

• "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Gershwin)
• "The Rose" (McBroom)
• "When You Say Nothing At All" (Krauss)
• "Unchained Melody" (Righteous Brothers)
• "Groovy Kind of Love" (Collins)