Viennese music has become almost synonymous with Johann Strauss II and his great waltzes. But of course there were other luminaries: his father Johann Strauss I his talented brothers Josef and Eduard as well as their colleagues friends and rivals. This collection includes music by some of these; and apart from waltzes we have polkas (slow and fast) a couple of melodies from operettas and a march. The selection ranges from shorter eminently playable miniatures to a handful of more extended and challenging arrangements. The waltz kings were first and foremost fiddlers. They led their orchestras from the front instrument and bow in hand. As a young man JohannStrauss II used to practise his Violin in a full-length mirror so he would look every inch the part. They knew how to write for the Violin how to make it sing and dance and this helps to make the repertoire a perfect foil to the other volumes in this series. The arrangements in this collection can be performed as solos duets or trios or by larger ensembles. In fact here are all the resources to recreate a Viennese café orchestra! The full range of traditional fiddle repertoire is now at your fingertips! Using these generous collections you can create your own ceilidh barn dance jazz club Sarajevo street-café or Gypsy gathering. Some of this music is familiar some more exotic but all of it is absolutely authentic faithfully arranged and above all hugely enjoyable. Each title in the series is available in two formats: the Violin edition (with an optional easy Violin part and Guitar chords); or the complete edition which also includes both Keyboard and Violin accompaniments. Either format is hugely flexible which means the music can be played as solos duets or trios as well as with larger ensembles. Edward Huws Jones has travelled extensively researching fiddle-playing traditions. In each book he explains the background of the particular musical style giving his own suggestions for a lively performance. And to help recreate the spirit of the music every book in the series is beautifully illustrated.

Grade 3-4-A series available as violin duets or violin & piano.Whether a student or a great artist the desire to make a beautiful sound is a constant in the life of any musician. Sound is the musician's voice the means of communicating an artistic vision to the audience and it should be the aim for children of any age or standard to be engaged in good tone production.The inspiration for writing these pieces came to me from the wish to give the young children I teach music which would develop their ear for both good intonation and beautiful tone production. All the pieces have a strongly implied harmonic structure allowing them to be played without accompaniment. Thepurpose of the second violin part is therefore to enable the teacher to underline the harmony as well as to influence the student's tone production and intonation through his own sound as much can be taught by good example. This music is also available for violin and piano with piano accompaniments written by Heidi Rolfe.Finally I think that children enjoy the challenge of expressing different moods and emotions musically and I hope that the range of ideas implied by the keys and the titles of these pieces will fire their imagination.Nigel Goldberg.

Violin and Piano reduction of Three Dances Op. 7 for Violin and Orchestra. The Three Dances are delightful miniatures written in 1915 in relatively carefree student days (relatively because the Great War was already a year old and Howells through ill health which nearly killed him in 1917 was exempted from active service). They were composed for a young fellow-student George Whittaker a highly gifted violinist who had entered the College aged only eleven. Certainly the music has no hint of the momentous events beginning to take shape and which would fundamentally affect one of his closest friends Ivor Gurney and kill a number of others.

Grades 2-Whether a student or a great artist the desire to make a beautiful sound is a constant in the life of any musician. Sound is the musician's voice the means of communicating an artistic vision to the audience and it should be the aim for children of any age or standard to be engaged in good tone production.The inspiration for writing these pieces came from the wish to give young students music which would develop their ear for both good intonation and beautiful tone production. All the pieces have a strongly implied harmonic structure allowing them to be played without accompaniment. The purpose of the accompanuments is therefore to enable the teacher to underline theharmony as well as to influence the student's tone production and intonation through his own sound as much can be taught by good example.Finally it is the author's belief that children enjoy the challenge of expressing different moods and emotions musically and it is hoped that the range of ideas implied by the keys and the titles of these pieces will fire their imagination.Contents:Almost Alone D MinorAlong the Sunny Path F MajorDance of the Gnomes D MinorEnglish Folk Song A MajorFisherman's Tale Bb MajorFull Moon F MajorHappy Song G MajorIntermezzo Bb MajorLana's Song A MinorLändler A MajorMountain Climb G MajorOff to School C MajorOverture G MajorQuick March ! A MajorRustic Dance D MajorSad Song G MinorSicilienne G MinorSicilienne Variation G MinorSpring Song C MajorSunshine and Flowers C MajorVirtuoso Variations G Major