for violin, viola and cello. Par HENZE HANS WERNER. This substantial mature work shows the superb mastery of one of Germany’s foremost contemporary composers. Henze, renowned for his lush orchestral textures and sensuous sonorities, aims for similar musical complexity – highly demanding of players and audience alike – even when writing for just three instruments./ Répertoire / Violon, Alto et Violoncelle

The long awaited Sassmannshaus method “Early Start on the Double Bass” is now here. At last students of the largest instrument in the string family can make use of this tried and tested method for beginners, developed by Egon Sassmannshaus for the other string instruments and applied here to the double bass by Holger Sassmannshaus and J. Peter Close. This method will meet the needs of the growing number of young bass students. “Early Start on the Double Bass” encompasses everything that one would expect from a Sassmannshaus method: an easy start, progression at a suitable rate, many cross-references to the other string instruments, songs and scales in different positions from early on, as well as many duets. Lively and colourful illustrations by Charlotte Panowsky complete the edition. For more than three decades “The Sassmannshaus Tradition” has been the household name for excellence in beginner string methods in German-speaking countries. The English editions for violin, viola and violoncello, which were introduced to the international market in 2008, have proven to be very successful, particularly in the United States. Kids to the Bass! While children learning other string instruments can start as early as the age of four, the appropriate age to begin the double bass is approximately eight (possibly even six); this allows for a faster progression than on the other string instruments, and the method consists of only three volumes. The first volume will be published separately in an English and a German edition; the following two volumes will have German and English text in each book. Original compositions by Boguslaw Furtok enrich the volumes. - Based on the tried-and-tested Sassmannshaus methods for violin, viola and cello - Volume 1: Separate editions in German and English - Volumes 2 and 3: Bilingual, German/English editions - Moderate increase in difficulty - Position playing, duets - Includes new original compositions to B. Furtok - Volume 3 with piano accompaniments to 7 pieces The authors Holger Sassmannshaus is a double bass player with the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker in Mönchengladbach/Krefeld. He also teaches the double bass and performs with several other ensembles. J. Peter Close is a teacher for violoncello and double bass in Munich.

The French titles and tempo markings in this four-movement, twenty-minute-long trio point to the composer's particular affinity to French culture. The 'Prélude? is followed by an impressive 'Invocation?, an homage to Schlee's highly regarded former teacher Olivier Messiaen in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of his birth. This movement, composed somewhat earlier than the others, was the departing point for the work. Amongst contemporary music one is not likely to find titles like those that were chosen for the final two movements: 'Allégresse? (exultation, joy) and 'Eglogue? (eclogue - a short pastoral poem). The titles give the music a lasting dramaturgical quality. They reflect the lyrical, serene atmosphere of this extraordinary masterpiece. / Violon, Violoncelle Et Alto