Sheet Music News

Those of you who visit the shop to buy music will have noticed that the layout has changed somewhat. We have new shelves to accommodate our ever increasing range of music (we can boast over four thousand titles on our database!) and access to the various books is now easier.

There has been a growing interest in Klezmer music (in particular in "The Klezmer Fiddler" written by Edward Huws Jones and outlined in Issue 2). Advanced string quartets may enjoy "A Klezmer Wedding", a one movement piece of music written as a type of medley! Encompassing several key, meter and tempo changes it would make a good addition to the "gigging" repertoire. (Score and parts 0002Curtis. £13.50)

Also perfect for the wedding and function quartet repertoire would be "Henry Mancini for Strings". Nicely scored for each player, the music has a bass part included which, although not essential, would add a welcome warmth to the scoring. Volume one includes The Pink Panther, and volume two Moon River, both cost £23.95 (0003Mancini, 0005Mancini). We are also keeping the scores in stock.

Gershwin fans liking arrangements of a flashier nature should love "Heifetz Plays Gershwin"
(0029 Gershwin £15.95). Full use is made of fingered harmonics, glissandos, double stops and other compositional devices designed to give anyone but the more advanced player a bit of a headache! The piano accompaniment is also fairly showy. The book comprises arrangements of "An American in Paris", "Three Preludes for Piano" and a selection of pieces from "Porgy and Bess".

Oxford University Press have recently included a CD with the sheet music "Fiddle Time Joggers" (0002Blackwell) by Kathy and David Blackwell. Please note that it now retails at the slightly increased price of £5.75

There is a large amount of "plus one" music available. This is a growing area in the music publishing business and fast increasing in popularity with our customers. Each accompanying CD includes both a performance track and a backing track for each piece. If you have internet access it would be worth having a look on our website in violin and cello albums under the composer name "Popular".  We have a number of "plus one" Christmas music titles, so you should have just enough time to order some in…
"Guest Spot Christmas Hits for Violin & CD" (0046Christmas £9.95) includes hits by bands such as The Pogues, Slade and Cliff Richard (a bit of a mixed bag!). "Junior Guest Spot Christmas Hits for Violin" (0030Christmas £9.95) is similar but a bit easier and so would suit the grade 2 - 3 player. "Take the Lead Christmas Songs for Violin" is a little more schmaltzy and has favourites such as "Frosty the Snowman", "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" and "Winter Wonderland". "Discover the Lead Christmas Carols for Violin" (0041Christmas £9.95) is suitable for the grade two player, and as the name implies, this one is full of carols! "Christmas Songs Playalong for Violin" (0040Christmas £9.95) includes "In Dulci Jubilo", "Last Christmas" & "Jingle Bells". There are practice points at the beginning of the book and some of the more difficult passages have extra slow recordings of the backing track to practice with. "Guest Spot Duets for Violin" (0042Christmas £12.95) has a range of carols and pop hits and the two accompanying CDs not only have the performance and backing tracks for both players but backing for a solo player to play either the first or second violin part. "Playalong Christmas Tunes for Violin and Cello" (respectively 0045Christmas & 0044Christmas both £9.95) have a range of  the usual tunes and include a piano accompaniment. Both books are in the same key and so could be played in unison.
Fans of the Edward Huws Jones "Fiddler" range may well enjoy "The Christmas Fiddler" (0001Christmas £5.99 and 0002Christmas, which includes the piano accompaniment £10.99). The book has carols and secular festive music along with a couple of related seasonal items. Followers of Kathy and David Blackwell's "Fiddle Time" range could include "Fiddle Time Christmas" in their book list if they are of around "Fiddle Time Joggers" standard. Happy carolling!            •Florence Lovegrove