Brahms completed his Cello Sonata Op.99 during the productive summer of 1886. The first public performance took place in Vienna on 24 November of the same year. Robert Hausmann played the Cello part and the composer himself was his partner at the Piano. Even though the work was generally received positively it took some years until it was fully appreciated and gained its irrevocable place in the Cello repertoire.Of particular value to the editors were the two early performance editions of the Cello Sonata Op.99 by Hugo Becker and Carl Friedberg as well as by Julius Klengel. Both cellists Becker and Klengel had aconnection to Brahms who very much admired and trusted Becker's playing and who performed together with Klengel. This edition not only incorporates Becker's and Klengel's performance markings but also Hausmann's for whom the piece was written. As such the Barenreiter edition comes with a Cello part marked with fingering and bowing by the editors which are based on the practices of Brahms' contemporaries. We also provide an unmarked Urtext part.An important part of this edition is the extensive Preface. Firstly it informs about the work's origin early performances its publication as well as early reception. Truly remarkable is the unique Performance Practice Commentary. Here the editors take the premise that already a few decades after Brahms' death a widening gulf developed between the composer's expectations and the performance practices of the early 20th century. In a very concrete and practical way the editors summarize some of the key issues in understanding Brahms' notation with regard to rhythm and timing dynamics and accentuation dots and strokes slurring and non legato Piano pedalling and overholding Piano arpeggiation and dislocation String Instrument fingering String Instrument harmonics and vibrato. In this way the edition offers an exciting and often surprising insight into Romantic musical interpretation.- A pioneering Urtext edition.- With an unmarked Urtext part.- With a second part including fingering and bowing based on the practices of contemporaries of Brahms.- With

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.

The E minor Cello Sonata is the first work for one solo instrument and Piano which the meticulous composer also had printed. In summer 1865 Brahms offered it to the publisher Simrock as a sonata “whose twoinstruments are both absolutely easy to play” – and rightly so: contrary to the later F-major Sonata op. 99 (HN 1135) this early sonata is technically less demanding yet musically more striking at the same time sothat it is a hit with amateurs and professionals alike. This Henle edition is based on the new Brahms Complete Edition and thus boasts besides in-depth comments a musical text revised according to the latest scholarlyfindings; as always the Cello part is enhanced with additional markings.

In a speech at the 1984 Matsumoto Summer Conference, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki nicknamed Alice Kanack Mozart's mother in response to her innovative work in the development of the creative part of the brain. He added to this his hope that as a result, someday all children might create their own music. After twelve years of research and testing, the Fun Improvisation for... series was developed. Each book contains philosophical and practical advice on how to use the 28 musical exercises to develop a child's innate creative ability to its highest level. The basic instructions allow even a twinkler to use these exercises, while the advanced instructions provide a challenge to the most advanced player.