Copland 2000 separate part - violin (piano accompaniment available separately = BHI102644)-Aaron Copland's name is for many synonymous with American music. It was his pioneering achievement to break free from Europe and create a concert music that is recognisably characteristically American. This is a collection of some of his most well known and other little known pieces all arranged for Violin.

Lili Boulanger was the sister of the famous teacher Nadia Boulanger who taught Aaron Copland Elliott Carter and Philip Glass amongst others. She was a composer for the last 10 years of her tragically short life - she died at 25 - and her music stands in the main line of French music exemplified by Faure somewhat tinged with the influence of Debussy's Impressionism. It is generally beautiful delicately coloured and touching. These challenging 'Two Pieces for Violin and Piano' exemplify these qualities. The Nocturne begins sparsely with bare octave figures wound about with a theme built from a repetitive rise-and-fall figure. As the texture become thickerthe violin becomes more virtuosic and begins to climb. There is no harmonic resolution until the final ppp note in the top register which is answered by an low octave from the piano. The Cortege is more lively without being fast. Shifting rhythmic accents tricky runs and contrasting dynamics make this an exciting piece.