Kreisler Tambourin Chinois Violin and String Orchestra

Kreisler: Tambourin Chinois, Op. 3 (Arr. Violin and String Orchestra)

Tambourin Chinois is among the most demanding of Kreisler's short recital pieces: fast, rhythmically insistent, and built around pentatonic-inflected melodic writing that gives the piece its character. The main theme recurs throughout with increasing brilliance, and the drive towards the finish leaves very little room for anything less than clean, secure technique at full speed. This edition sets the original violin and piano version for solo violin and string orchestra.

The string orchestra handles the rhythmic function of the accompaniment well, and in the broader, louder moments gives the piece more weight than a piano can. The orchestral writing is drawn from Kreisler's piano part, redistributed across the five string sections to maintain the rhythmic clarity the piece needs without crowding the solo line.

The solo demands are firmly at Diploma or Professional standard. Fast spiccato and off-the-string bowing in the main sections, clean left-hand agility through rapid string crossings, and the ability to shape the lyrical contrasting passages without losing forward momentum. The pizzicato passages add a further layer of technical demand. It is not a piece a player can get away with rather than bring off.

At around four minutes, it works well as a high-energy solo feature within a concert programme, particularly effective later in a programme when the audience is ready for something fast and loud.

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 sense of the engraving quality, orchestral balance, and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional (solo); Intermediate to Advanced (orchestra)
• Duration: approximately 4 minutes
• Style focus: spiccato bow technique, left-hand agility, rhythmic drive
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This suits professional and advanced student recitals where a fast, technically demanding showpiece is needed. It works as a solo feature for a strong amateur or youth orchestra that can maintain clean rhythmic ensemble playing, and it programmes naturally alongside Romantic concertos or lighter orchestral repertoire where contrast of character is useful.