Par BENSA OLIVIER. / Niveau : Elémentaire / classique / Répertoire / Violon, Bandonéon, Guitare et Piano

Par RAE JAMES. This collection of twelve very easy original pieces was written with the aim of providing players in the earliest stage of their musical development with solo and group performance material. Although very elementary, the pieces are composed in a wide variety of styles in order to provide a well-balanced musical diet for the young performer. All of these pieces for young violists in their earliest stages of learning can be performed as solos with piano accompaniment (free download) or in unison with others. Some have an optional 2nd part to enrich the ensemble. Whilst these 12 pieces are written specifically for the viola and address the challenges a beginner violist would encounter, the last four pieces are also “key friendly” for beginners on most instruments and are therefore suitable for mixed instrumental groups. These same four pieces appear in books for other instruments in the Debut series. A CD providing stimulating demonstration performances for listening as well as “minus-one” accompaniments for playing along at home. • Free download of the piano accompaniment parts • CD with play-along version and full version for practising at home A further option: mixed ensemble! Whilst these twelve pieces are written specifically for each respective solo instrument, the last four pieces are also suitable for mixed instrumental groups. These same four pieces appear in books for other instruments in the Debut series – great fun for all! / Pédagogie / Recueil / 1-2 Altos et Piano

Igor Stravinsky liked to use different stylistic devices or embedded them in his personal musical language: Be it that he took a Gallop by Jacques Offenbach or composed Circus Polka for a Young Elephant or a ragtime. After the outbreak of the Second World War and his final move to the USA in 1939, he was in particular influenced by jazz music. In 1940 the composer wrote a Tango for piano which he arranged for chamber music ensemble in 1953: It is a strictly structured three-part tango on which Stravinsky imposed his harmony, his musical language. Arranged for string quartet by Wolfgang Birtel, the work is a perfect addition to the classical concert repertoire but also an entertaining, yet demanding musical piece for playing chamber music at home.

Bring the excitement of traditional Latin dance to the string orchestra with this collection. Explore the 'clave,' or rhythmic groove styles, such as the Merengue, Tango, Mambo, and others in a flexible format. All instruments have the melody, a harmony part, and an accompaniment/bass line. Easy hand percussion parts are included for the string players to perform or the optional drumset part can be used. The use of piano and guitar is recommended for authenticity but not necessary. All text appears in both English and Spanish. / Alto

Par CAMPO REGIS. C'est l'ensemble Apostrophe, composé de solistes de l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, qui m'a commandé ce petit cycle pour quatuor à cordes en vue d'un prochain concert Carte-blanche autour de plusieurs de mes oeuvres en mai 2007 à Nice. Il s'agit d'une série de croquis au fusain, étape récréative et préparatoire entre deux travaux plus développés: le remaniement de mon premier quatuor à cordes Les Heures maléfiques et le projet d'un troisième quatuor à cordes pour le Quatuor Diotima dont la création aura lieu au festival du Périgord Noir en août prochain. Note-book est composé de cinq pièces de caractère très contrastant. Le Pic-vert, à l'origine écrit pour piccolo et piano, rejoint dans sa nouvelle instrumentation pour quatuor le bois des instruments à cordes, bois tant prisé par l'oiseau... Ecrit pour piano en 2001, Harmoni(qu)es est ici transformé en plages méditatives, en chants d'harmoniques naturelles et artificielles des cordes. Tango est un hommage à Piazzolla et à son art majeur. Beatles-mania: une écriture plus 'rock', jouant sur des timbres anguleux et assez rauques du quatuor à cordes. Enfin, Gagaku retrouve les couleurs d'une musique japonaise suspendue, en particulier les sonorités de l'orgue à bouche, le Shô, magnifique instrument pré-accordé en dix accords de six notes aigues. Régis Campo / contemporain / Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes