12 Recital Pieces in First Position for Cello and Piano or Two Celli-Charming collections of easy pieces in first position. Each Cello part is supported by a Piano accompaniment for student performances. Alternately a second Cello part allows duo playing with the teacher during lessons. This early introduction to chamber music brings joy and satisfaction to the young cellist and teaches the student to hear the music as a whole. The two volumes are designed as companion publications to the Early Start on the Cello method. However they work equally well as a supplement to any other Cello method. A variety of rarely published works by well-known cellists and pedagogues such as Wilhelm Fitzenhagen HugoSchlemüller and August Nölck make these publications attractive to teachers and students. The Cello Recital Album Volume 1 can be used as a supplement to the Early Start on the Cello method Volumes 1 and 2 (BA 8996 and BA 8997). The 18 pieces in Volume 1 are structured to follow the same progression of finger patterns introduced in the Early Start method. This systematic progression helps the student to solidify the hand position and improve intonation. The basic bowing techniques do not require changes in bow speed or sounding point. The young performer can focus on a straight and beautifully placed bow that produces a pleasing and clear sound. The Cello Recital Album Volume 2 can be used as a supplement to the Early Start on the Cello method Volumes 2 and 3 (BA 8997 and BA 8998). The 12 pieces in Volume 2 are structured to follow the same progression of finger patterns introduced in the Early Start method Volumes 2 and 3. The later repertoire in this volume includes a careful introduction of downward and upward extensions.

These three pieces for cello and piano are meditations – personal secular and musical – on images from religious poetry. The title of No. 1 Angels bending near the earth comes from a carol which begins‘It came upon the midnight clear’ by the Massachusetts pastor and poet Edmund Sears. The full reference is to “angels bending near the earth/to touch their harps of gold” and this is the inspiration forthe music with piano arpeggios swooping down over the rich central band of sound produced by the cello. No. 2’s title In death’s dark vale is a brief paraphrase (from a Scottish hymnal) of Psalm 23; thefull quotation is “yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil”. The image here is of human life lived against the prospect of impending death. The cello plays a hasty self-absorbed continuo whilst around it piano motifs and chords of different height and depth create an evolving backdrop. No. 3 O sapientia is the only movement which quotes a musical original; Hildegard ofBingen’s hymn O virtus sapientiae –“O strength of wisdom”. This is a calm elegaic set of variations for the cello on Hildegard’s melody accompanied by mostly bright optimistic refl ections from thepiano. Commissioned by cellist Jonathan Miller of Boston MA. First performance on 23 September 2016 at Hamilton Hall Salem MA by Jonathan Miller (cello) and Randall Hodgkinson (piano)

Another volume in this highly acclaimed series premiering sensational new arrangements for cello. CELLOWISE 2 includes Lacrimosa by Mozart Paganini's La Campanella Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet Brahms Waltzes Op. 39 and Bach's Gavotte en Rondeau from Violin Partita in E made famous by Segovia.With the drama and spectacle of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet acrobatic leaps and fun of the Fair in Moussorgsky's Gopak reflective chiaroscuro of the Brahms Waltzes the fireworks of Paganini's La Campanella mystical Lacrimosa of Mozart's Requiem or Bach's colourful variations in the Gavotte en Rondeau this selection explores vivid and dramatic themes fromthe great Classics. It is idiomatic to the cello clear and accessible in technical format and makes a practical and versatile concert handbook for cellists of all ages.ContentsBach    * 3. Polonaise (from Suite No. 2 BWV 1067)    * 4. Gavotte en Rondeau (from Partita No. 3 in E major BWV 1006)Brahms    * 7. Waltz op. 39 No. 9    * 8. Waltz op. 39 No. 15Handel    * 1. Hornpipe (from the Water Music)    * 2. Air (from the Water Music)Mozart    * 5. Lacrimosa (from the Requiem K626)Mussorgsky (Moussorgsky)    * 9. Gopak (from Sorochintsky Fair)Paganini    * 6. La CampanellaProkofiev    * 10. Montagues and Capulets (from Romeo and Juliet)