Elgar Chanson de Matin Op 15 No 2 for Violin and String Orchestra

Chanson de Matin is the companion piece to Elgar's Chanson de Nuit, and the two sit naturally alongside each other in a programme. Where the Nuit is sustained and inward, the Matin has more variety: shifts in dynamic and tempo that need careful bow control to bring off well. This arrangement sets the solo violin inside a string orchestra texture.

At Grade 6–7, the lyrical quality of the writing is the first priority. Elgar's melodic lines need a singing tone and expressive shaping, and the phrasing has to feel natural and unforced rather than applied on top. The additional challenge is in the dynamic and tempo contrasts, which appear on both a small scale within phrases and a larger scale between sections. Managing these with the bow, rather than simply getting louder and softer, is where the real work is: bow speed, weight, and contact point all need to adjust in response to the music, and a player who understands that connection will bring out a level of colour that the notes alone do not show.

At three minutes, it is compact, and the variety of character within that short span makes it feel more substantial than its length suggests.

See and hear the difference

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 6–7
• Duration: approximately 3 minutes
• Style focus: lyrical phrasing, bow control for dynamic and tempo contrast, singing tone
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This suits violinists at Grade 6–7 who are working on expressive bow control and musical phrasing and are ready for a piece where the character changes demand real technical responsiveness. It works well in school and youth orchestra concerts alongside more energetic repertoire, and it pairs naturally with Chanson de Nuit for programmes where both Elgar pieces are performed together.