SKU: CF.BF131

ISBN 9781491153765. UPC: 680160911264. 9 x 12 inches.

Inspired by Clarence Cameron White’s book The Violinist’s Daily Dozen, The Violinist’s Daily Sixteen is a collection of daily exercises compiled by Roland Vamos. Intended for student and professional violinists, the collection provides the performer with a variety of exercises for daily warm-ups. Mr. Vamos also focuses on developing dexterity and flexibility in the fingers and joints, the first and fourth fingers in particular. Each of the sixteen exercises is notated for each of the four strings, and Vamos recommends that the exercises be practiced as warm-ups, choosing a different string for each day of practice.Also included with the Daily Sixteen is a comprehensive set of studies for developing fluency with scales and arpeggios. Mr. Vamos’ unique methodology is to begin with major scales and arpeggios, followed by minor scales and arpeggios, all of which are notated in two, three and four octaves. Alternate fingers are provided, as well as a variety of slurred and mixed bowings using the three parts of the bow whenever feasible. It is a remarkably systematic approach to performing scales and arpeggios on the violin and will surely benefit students and professionals alike.
ForewordThis short hand-setting set of exercises was inspired by a book entitled The Violinist’s Daily Dozen, conceived by Clarence Cameron White, a prominent African-American violinist, composer and arranger who enjoyed the bulk of his career in the first half of the twentieth century.I have practiced this set of exercises since I was twelve years old. It has served me as a superb warm-up and hand setting tool. Over the years, I have found that there are some aspects of this warm-up routine that were not given sufficient attention or not addressed at all. Consequently, I have expanded the Daily Dozen to create a new work entitled The Violinist’s Daily Sixteen.I have also paid particular attention in this work as to how these exercises are to be practiced. In exercises one and two, I have indicated some notes to be played before the actual written exercises. This is to ensure that the fourth finger will be over the string in a position ready to strike even though it is not being used. Before playing exercises three, four, nine, ten, eleven and twelve, I have indicated silent fingers to be placed on the notes they would be playing if they were being used.I have replaced Mr. White’s grace notes with notes of specific value and have slowed down the exercises so that the first joint (the joint nearest the string) of each finger can move with flexibility and strength. At no time should the first joint buckle.In Mr. White’s version, the last exercise gave the first finger some very valuable backward extensions. In this exercise (number 14 in this book), I caution the student not to move the hand along with the first finger. The hand should remain in position while the first finger independently moves back and forth.It became obvious to me that if the first finger were given the opportunity to develop the dexterity that Mr. White’s twelfth exercise emphasizes, the fourth finger could benefit from an exercise that gives it a forward extension. Consequently, I added another exercise to create a Baker’s Dozen (thirteen).Several years later, I felt that the second and third fingers should also have an exercise to further develop their dexterity…hence exercise fourteen was added to create a “Vamos Dozen.”Because the first finger did not have sufficient practice in the development of the first joint in the original version, I have added two exercises to precede White’s fifth exercise. After re-working and re-numbering these exercises, I have come up with a total of sixteen exercises. It is my suggestion that these be practiced as a warm-up, choosing a different string each day.—Roland VamosEvanston, Illinois 2017 PrefaceScales are a means of teaching a person the fingerboard on his or her instrument. The fingers move across the strings and are required to make shifts, all in highly organized patterns. Scales and arpeggios are the foundation upon which our repertoire is built. Many scale books have been written; each one being organized in its own specific way. The Flesch Scale System has been a standard for many decades. It is very comprehensive and systematic. From the point of view of establishing similar patterns, it has one drawback: it is organized by starting with a major key, followed by its relative minor, going through the circle of fifths. I believe that it is more profitable to do only major scales with their arpeggios first, going up chromatically, and then follow them in a similar way with the minor scales. In using this approach, the similarities in fingerings between the various scales are more apparent. It is also profitable to have alternate fingerings whenever possible. My approach to scales and arpeggios includes a variety of slurred and mixed bowings using the three parts of the bow whenever feasible. These bowings are not all-inclusive. Whenever a particularly awkward bowing pattern is encountered in the repertoire, it can be practiced as an additional bowing variation in the scales and arpeggios.    I have chosen to introduce the three and four octave scales by teaching two octave scales across the strings in one position going up chromatically through seven positions; starting on the first, second, third, and finally fourth fingers in major and melodic minor.—Roland VamosEvanston, Illinois 2017.

SKU: PR.144407380

ISBN 9781491133903. UPC: 680160683475. 9 x 12 inches.

In her powerful Foreword to the music, violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins has written: “There are great works which give voice to important moments for generations, and this is one of them.” The tragedy of Elijah McClain’s murder has moved us all, and for many musicians the image of this gentle young man playing his violin for kittens at an animal shelter has added a poignant extra layer. Zwilich was a professional violinist before turning exclusively to composing, and A LITTLE VIOLIN MUSIC is a memorial from the heart of one violinist to another.
[THESE NOTES MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLICATION; OK TO QUOTE A BIT AND GIVE AUTHOR CREDIT]We often research important pieces of music to gain some glimpse into the mind of the composer by understanding the times in which a piece was written. The times that brought this piece into being, 2020, has been a year like no other in our lifetimes.With the suffering of a once in a century pandemic raging in ever higher waves, and millions of people around the world confined to their homes with a shared attention span for the first time in generations, we watched in horror the 8 minute 46 second killing of George Floyd, a man previously unknown to us, but now unwillingly joining a long list of names of unarmed African Americans killed by police. The anguished backlash of citizens around the world, from Japan to New Zealand to Germany to the United States, of every age, color, and creed, has rallied for weeks and months on end to demand enough and that “Black Lives Matter.”And yet, in the midst of it all is an America starkly divided against itself with some defiantly pushing back, emboldened by authoritarian-style government actions against its own citizens occurring all over the country. It is against this backdrop that we ever had a chance to know of Elijah McClain. Here in quarantine I sometimes practice my scales in front of the news. And one day the mirror image looking back at me from the screen was a slight young man, warm, affable brown eyes, and also a violin under his chin. The newsreel-style camera pan so familiar now, I knew the only reason we were gazing upon his unfamous face was that he too had been killed by police nearly a year before. But the revelation of it in the broadcast hit me particularly hard.Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, who is not only one of the great composers of our time, is also a dear friend, and called me the next day, also deeply saddened by the news. It was from Ellen that I learned that Elijah used to play for the kittens at the local animal shelter so they wouldn’t be lonely. This kind, gentle soul was aggressively taken into police custody while saying, “I am an introvert. Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking... I’m going home.” He was never seen alive again.Ellen and I spoke of the sadness and the injustice of this several times. She felt a powerful calling to contribute something in a statement and the result is the piece you now hold in your hands. I am deeply honored to be the dedicatee of the piece, to have worked together with Ellen on some of the final details, and to pen this score note. As an invited alumna of the Eastman School of Music, I premiered the work for their virtual event on Diversity and Inclusion. Each time I play it, there is a persistent lump in my throat because Ellen has captured something poignant and powerful here.There are great works which give voice to important moments for generations, and this is one of them. We humbly offer this piece in memory of Elijah McClain.Foreword © 2021 by Kelly Hall-Tompkins. Used by permission.

SKU: SP.TS556

ISBN 9781585609161.

Due to the success of our Instrumental Fingering Posters, we thought it would be helpful to create a smaller version that could be tucked comfortably into any method book as a reference guide. Unbeknownst to us after days of research, we were left with countless questions, much confusion, and a slew of poorly crafted images from contradicting publications. That being said, we realized that there weren't truly any trustworthy resources in print and decided to address the void. We consulted experts in every category asking questions until both we and they and we were satisfied. Finally, a guide to fingering for beginners that even the experienced players will find beneficial. Santorella's Basic Fingering Charts are essential for anyone that picks up an instrument. Initially intended for beginners but after understanding the importance of false fingerings or more appropriately called, alternate fingerings their necessity is vital for playing certain musical passages on a particular instrument. In addition, after observing the difficulties that students had in identifying key signatures, we decided to include the Circle of Fifths diagram and every major scale in two octaves in every key including their enharmonic counterparts. After all was said in done, we now know, we now have the best educational products available for fingering in the industry. Our Basic Fingering Charts are perfect for private students, classroom study, or simply for a quick and easy reference guide while practicing at home. These graphic reference guides for assorted brass, reeds, woodwinds, and orchestral strings are specifically available for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet, Flute, Piccolo, Recorder, Baritone Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, French Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Oboe, Bassoon, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass. Every chart displays the entire range of each instrument by clearly depicting the fingering for each note including all their enharmonic substitutions. Each chart includes a diagram identifying the levers, valves, keys, slides, frets and more of each and every instrument. Learn where, when, and why to place your fingers. Now is the time to truly start playing with assured confidence.

SKU: CF.BF115

ISBN 9781491150993. UPC: 680160908493. 9x12 inches.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s (1685—1750) SixSonatas and Partitas have captivated violinistsfor centuries. Rachel Barton Pine—havingspent decades studying the music of Bach,his contemporaries, and his predecessors—now offers this unparalleled edition completewith detailed historical notes, performancesuggestions, and downloadable study materialsincluding a new Urtext edition and a speciallyprepared manuscript. Pine’s interpretationis informed by thorough historical study, which has been polished byyears of performance insight, but also encourages those studying Bach’srepertoire to craft their own unique interpretation of these timelessmasterpieces. This edition closely follows Pine’s critically acclaimed 2016recording “Testament: Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin byJ.S. Bach” (Avie 2360) making it an invaluable resource for any student,teacher, or performer enthralled with J.S. Bach’s long standing legacy.Ms. Pine holds the distinction of being the only American and youngestperson to win the gold medal at the J.S. Bach International ViolinCompetition in Leipzig, Germany, 1992.
here is no one right way to play Bach. More thanalmost any repertoire, each individual’s interpretation isas unique as their personality. Though I have spent decadesstudying Bach’s music as well as that of his contemporariesand predecessors, my final rationale for artisticdecisions is often taste and instinct. Every violinist whoundertakes a lifetime’s journey with this incredible repertoireis continually discovering new ideas. Thus, theopinions on the following pages may evolve over time.However, everything in the sheet music closely follows my2016 recording “Testament: Complete Sonatas and Partitasfor Solo Violin by J.S. Bach” (Avie 2360), which I trulyfeel represents the culmination of my exploration intothese extraordinary works.In choosing to present this edition, my hope is thatyou will find useful solutions to challenges of fingering,bowing, and polyphony, and helpful information aboutphrasing. I have also included additional dynamic suggestionswith the hope that trying these ideas will help inspireyou to discover your own. All of these markings aredesigned to work with a baroque violin and baroque bow,a modern violin and baroque bow, or a modern violinand modern bow. While the information in this editionis unusually dense, there is much that I did not include,such as lifts, breaths, articulations, whether to play on oroff the string, metronome markings, details of timing,and emphases other than hemiolas.I offer this book to you in the spirit of Bach: “SoliDeo Gloria.”.

SKU: ST.Y274

ISBN 9790220223358.

1st perf: Keisuke Okazaki, Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall, Tokyo, Japan, 22 April 2008
1st UK perf: Darragh Morgan, Schott Recital Room, Bauer & Hieber, London, 5 February 2009

Though the jagged figures and phrases of Lucky's Dream by Morgan Hayes are unmistakably those of a contemporary musical expressionist, the shadow of Bach also falls on this work, inspired by the virtuosity of the young Japanese soloist Keisuke Okazaki and his playing of the E major Partita.

In fact, though 'standard' contemporary techniques are widely used in the piece - left-hand pizzicato, harmonics and microtones, all deployed in edgy, unpredictable rhythms - there is also a classical shape to the structure. In this two-part form, lasting around four minutes, the first section is reflective, dwelling on single notes, phantoms as it were of pitches that are subtly deflected through slow glissandi. Then a spectral dance ensues, delivered largely on plucked strings, ethereal, disembodied, strange.

The 'Lucky' in question is a character from Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, and Lucky's Dream is a complementary work to the earlier, impassioned Lucky's Speech (2006). The two items can stand alone or may be performed consecutively. Both are to be found on the recent all-Hayes CD released on the NMC label (NMC D163), which also features the composer's 17-minute Violin Concerto as further evidence for his original approach to writing for the instrument.