Rieding Dance of the Dragon Flies Op 20 for Violin and String Orchestra

Rieding's Libellentanz ("Dance of the Dragonflies", Op. 20) is a nimble, high-spirited Romantic miniature that has been a reliable Grade 6/7 solo vehicle since its publication in 1904. This arrangement sets the original violin and piano version for solo violin and string orchestra, giving the soloist a fuller, more colourful sound without adding rehearsal weight.

At ABRSM Grade 6/7, the solo writing asks for agile off-the-string bowing, a singing tone on the G string, and confident playing in the upper register: the kind of demands that suit a player who is ready to move beyond Grade 5 repertoire and start sounding genuinely brilliant. The piece has a clear character — lively and precise in its outer sections, lyrical in the middle — and it's very rewarding when the bow control is working.

The orchestral part is purposefully light. The lower strings provide gentle rhythmic energy and harmonic support, the inner parts carry occasional counter-melodies, and the overall texture stays transparent enough that the solo line always sits on top. It gives the ensemble real musical purpose without competing with the soloist.

At around five minutes, it fits neatly into most school or youth orchestra programmes as a solo feature and comes together quickly with limited rehearsal time. For a student ready to take on a proper concert solo, it's a practical and well-proportioned choice.

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 and String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 6/7 (solo); accessible youth orchestra level (ensemble)
• Duration: approximately 5 minutes
• Style focus: off-the-string bowing, G-string tone, upper-register confidence
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

Suits school or youth orchestra concerts with a student soloist at Grade 6/7, community orchestras looking for a polished short item that comes together quickly, or a student preparing for an examination or recital who wants the experience of performing with an ensemble rather than a piano.