SKU: BA.BA11043

ISBN 9790006543229. 33.5 x 25.5 cm inches.

Manfred Trojahn on the origin and title of his impressive virtuoso solo work:
Admittedly I do not know if he had seagulls, but since Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg, he will not have gone through life without at least the impression of the cry of seagulls. Nor do I know if seagulls played any part in his life in Rome. I myself was astonished when, one or two years ago in the Villa Massimo, I was, not exactly annoyed but disturbed by the strong rhythmical cry of seagulls. I was just about to write a bassoon solo when the seagulls started.
Then the idea came to me that precisely this sequence of notes could serve as the basis of the work. And the sequence for the bassoon solo is, in turn, the basis of the piece for violoncello - this is how titles are born... Of course the violoncello meanders with virtuosic ease from the seagull motif to the 'elf-like' skittering brought to music by Mendelssohn and used time and again in his compositions, finally becoming a cabaletta. Now, cabalettas are not very representative of Mendelssohn, but as I was composing I definitely wanted to put a cabaletta in this passage.
I am sure Mendelssohn and I will easily agree on this, especially since later justice is done to him in the rapid passages and, of course in the tonal cadenza at the very end, which is more indicative of his time than of mine ... isn't it?

SKU: AP.20145UK

ISBN 9780739096840. English.

We all agree that scales are a basis for learning cello technique, which is why we include scales in our teaching. The trick of course, is how to integrate scales into the learning process so that at the moment the repertoire demands the technique, the fingers are able to respond. All too often scales are divorced from their musical environment or teachers are compelled to cut and paste from traditional scale books to try to match technique and learning.
Here, in this new series, Scale Builder Orfilia Saiz Vega meticulously matches scale development to the appropriate level of technique. Through this, the patterns and rhythms expected of the student at their level of musical competence are precisely those practised. Moreover, the skilful integration of bowing and other techniques specific to the instrument mean that acquiring the scales across a whole range of technical devices means that when they appear in the music they are expected to play, teachers can concentrate on the musical elements safe in the knowledge that the technique is secure.
Great musicians are formed from early age. We finally have this gradual, attractive and adapted system of scales to start building student's technique, which will be at the service of their artistry in the future. I strongly recommend it!
ASIER POLO Cello player, soloist and Artistic director at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts of the University'Alfonso X el Sabio' (Madrid).