Scott Joplin is celebrated as the United States? first well-known black composer, making his name as a writer of piano rags. His life was a constant struggle with adversity, and Joplin died relatively young in 1917, at the dawn of the recording age. Few remembered Joplin?s music until a revival in the 1970s brought The Entertainer and others to the world?s attention. Nowadays Scott Joplin has taken his rightful place in the gallery of great American composers.

The Rags included in this collection are, The Entertainer, The Maple Leaf Rag, The Easy Winners, The Elite Syncopations and The Favorite.

They have been arranged as solos for one Cello with piano accompaniment, and include all sections of the original compositions. You will download one pdf file that contains both 22 pages of piano score and the 10 page solo part. These pieces are suitable for players at an intermediate and advanced intermediate level. Musicians will find these Ragtime solos ideal for formal and informal performances, light and fun, yet still a serious and vitally important part of the American musical heritage. The overall performance time for all five is around 25 minutes.

Teachers will enjoy using these arrangements as a fun way to help with phrasing, syncopated rhythms and light articulation.

Click on the YouTube link to see and hear samples from the collection. There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

The present volume contains a selection of very easy recital pieces for violoncello and piano which can be played in the first position after 1-2 years of cello lessons. The selected pieces are original works from the Renaissance period to the present day: from the Baroque minuet, the classical sonatina or the Romantic character piece to contemporary music and tango, blues or pop. The pieces are suitable for individual, group and chamber music lessons, for practising on one's own and especially for the first auditions, concerts or competitions. A musical journey through 500 years of cello music!

'Best of Cello Classics' contains 15 popular performance pieces for cello and piano from four centuries. The Baroque works also contain a continuous bass part. Apart from standard works and 'classics' such as the famous sonatas by Breval (C major), de Fesch (D minor), Vivaldi (E minor) or Saint-Saens' 'The Swan' from 'The Carnival of Animals', this volume also contains lesser known works, like Recercada primera by Ortiz, sonatas by Cirri and Romberg, as well as some charming little character pieces by Lee, Goltermann, Nolck and Trowell. The majority of the works can, for the most part, be played in the first four positions. Some pieces containing a few notes in the neck positions are nevertheless easily playable as well.