The studies by Charles Dancla (1817-1907) are more than mere technical exercises. They demand a special sense of tone, an elegant, softly flowing and swinging way of playing. They challenge the violinist in all associated disciplines, such as staccato on an up- and downbow, arpeggios, double stop passages and rapid passages. Apart from that, Dancla again and again seeks the soft, singing sound areas and the refined sound.
It is fun for both teacher and pupil to develop the violin playing technique in such a way. Furthermore, the delight in music-making is increased as every piece has its own characteristic, appearing not like a study but rather like a performance capriccio which could be played as an encore, for example.
The present edition is based on the (presumed) first edition of the Parisian publisher S. Richault (plate number 12974.B.) from c. 1856. Added fingerings have been marked accordingly. Information on technical characteristics, playing suggestions, etc. are contained in the notes at the end of the volume.

Charles Dancla (1817-1907) is considered to be the last great representative of the French Violin School. He was a composer, solo violinist at the Paris Opera and professor at the Paris Conservatoire and wrote numerous educational works for violin, including his well-known three-volume work Little School of Melody'. He knew, in a unique way, how to implement the principle 'no music without technique, no technique without music' in his teaching material. This is the case in his easy melodic studies Op. 84 which are available here in an arrangement for viola for the first time. These studies are perfectly suited for young beginners after the second year, but also for adult players, false beginners or those switching instruments. Most of them can be effectively used as little performance pieces, providing an excellent foundation for every advanced etude or concert piece.
Each study is preceded by new or revised exercises which either deal with specific problems relating to the playing technique, like change of string, spiccato, martele, chromaticism, change of position, octaves, or double stops, or present the tonal material of the respective study in a condensed, playful form. Those who prefer Dancla's somewhat easier original preliminary exercises will find them in the appendix.