Seitz Student Concerto No 5 Op. 22 for Violin and String Orchestra

Here's the rewrite:

Seitz's Student Concerto No. 5 in D major, Op. 22 is a staple of violin pedagogy, familiar from examination syllabuses and school concert programmes across the UK. This arrangement sets the solo violin against a string orchestra, giving young soloists the experience of concerto performance with full ensemble support rather than a piano accompaniment.

The solo part stays entirely in first position throughout all three movements, which is central to what makes this concerto useful at around Grade 6. Restricting the range to first position means a developing violinist can focus on the considerable technical demands that lie within it without the added complexity of shifting: a variety of bowing styles, left-hand configurations, and double stops that each require careful preparation. First position provides a stable frame within which to work on these techniques properly, and eleven minutes of music gives plenty of time to move through contrasting material and moods. The orchestra parts are written to suit an ensemble of similar ability to the soloist, providing harmonic and rhythmic support without placing unreasonable demands on the accompanying players.

At eleven minutes, this is a substantial centrepiece for a school concert or end-of-term programme. The D major key gives it a bright, confident character that carries well in a hall.

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, part layout, 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
• Duration: approximately 11 minutes
• Style focus: bowing variety, left-hand configurations and double stops, all in first position
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This suits young violinists ready for their first concerto experience with a full string ensemble behind them; school orchestras and youth ensembles looking for a programme centrepiece that works for soloist and orchestra alike; and teachers preparing students for Grade 6 examinations who want repertoire that builds technique progressively within a familiar positional range.