Battalia by Heinrich Biber was written in 1673 and depicts a series of military scenes. It begins with the entry march of the soldiers, and includes a spirited dance, and even a battle! Although this piece was written before J. S. Bach was even born, it has many moments that are still considered modern today. In the battle scene, the players are asked to use snap pizzicati, hundreds of years before Bela Bartok became famous for using this technique in his music.

With this arrangement, even student orchestras can enjoy Biber’s bright tunes and powerful action scenes. I have enjoyed using this piece to teach my own students how to play in the Baroque style, and my students have been excited to use their imagination and musical skill to bring Biber’s drama to life!