Format : Sheet music
SKU: CF.BF128
ISBN 9781491153413. UPC: 680160910915.
Wohlfahrt’s Foundation Studies have long been successful tools forviolinists and violists in mastering the technical difficulties of theirinstruments. Originally conceived for a complete comprehension offirst position on the violin and viola, Richard Hughey presents thisnew edition for cello students. Transcribing these etudes for the cellopresents new challenges for the performer. Particular passages, forexample, require the student to make use of the second and eventhird positions. The fingerings chosen for these passages reflectthese shifting positions in a coherent and logical way. Trainedcomprehensively in both cello and conducting, Hughey shares hiswealth of experience and knowledge in Wohlfahrt’s FoundationStudies for the Violoncello.The violin etudes and exercises of Franz Wohlfahrt havebeen and continue to be used by violin and recently violateachers the world over. Franz was the son of HeinrichWohlfahrt (1797, Kößnitz–1883, Leipzig), a noted pianoteacher who also published many studies for piano thatwere very successful with younger students. Heinrichdeveloped a keen sense for the pedagogical development ofchildren and composed excellent studies accordingly. Withthe education of his sons Robert (1826, Weimar–deathdate unknown) and Franz (1833, Frauenpriesnitz–1884,Leipzig), he passed these pedagogical abilities to the nextgeneration.In the preface to his Violin Studies Opus 45, FranzWohlfahrt wrote:The study of the violin presents certain difficultiesfor beginners which are frequently the cause of a suddendecrease in the pupil’s zeal and ambition, even before he hasmastered the first fundamentals.The blame for this is commonly laid on the teacher,who is called incapable or negligent; losing sight of thefact that the pupil began his studies without the slightestnotion, not merely of the difficulties to be encountered,but also of the regular and diligent effort indispensable forovercoming them.It is important, therefore, to smooth these first severitiesby showing their usefulness and making them agreeable; tothis end my Violin Method was published and the presentexercises have been written, which latter may be consideredas forming a supplement to the former.If practiced carefully and intelligently, they will serve asa solid foundation for the technique of any player ambitiousto become an artist.These studies have been successful tools for violinistsand violists to begin to master the technical difficulties oftheir instruments. Clearly conceived for a more completecomprehension of the use of the first position on the violinand similarly for the viola, presenting these etudes forthe cello presents a new challenge. As ongoing violinistsand violists can use the fourth finger to play the note ofthe next higher open string, this is not possible on thecello. To perform these exercises on the cello, particularlyreaching the “E†on the A-string, requires the studentto make use of the second and even third positions. Thefingerings chosen for these passages reflect the necessityof shifting to these positions. This is of great advantage,as a new set of studies now can be used by the studentto practice shifting to and from those positions and thusincreases technical proficiency in the second and thirdpositions of the cello.
SKU: BR.EB-6705
ISBN 9790004169063. 9 x 12 inches. German.
Though a piano can always be included, it is not an essential requirement for the performance of these settings: in some of the carols, two violins or two flutes are quite sufficient, especially if voices are used as well. The following combinations are particularly suitable for domestic music-making, whether or not voices are included as well:one violin and piano,two violins and piano,two or three violins,violins and recorders,two concert (C) flutes (and an alto flute) and - as the ideal combination for shepherds' songs - flutes, violins, cello and piano.Performing groups and music schools have the advantage of a wider choice of forces and the possibility of varying the instrumentation within the individual carols and verses. Thus large and small combinations can alternate, strings and flutes can play in turn, and finally the piano can be used by itself or to reinforce other instrumental combinations, in which case the cello can be added, too.The pieces are graded in increasing order of difficulty; the first carols are chosen so that they can be mastered by violinists after as little as 4 to 6 months of learning their instrument. The choise and sequence of the carols in this book, and also their keys, were determined, amongst other factors, by their suitability for the start of violin tuition, both in first and in third position, so that these carols make an especially good supplement of Christmas music to the violin method of Fritz and Gottfried Scharlach (with its principle of starting with the third position). The progressively increasing difficulty of the carols has resulted, for example, in the three Advent carols (nos. 23-25) being placed later in the collection.The editor hopes that these carols will be much played and sung, and thus help to fill the Christmas season with joy and splendour.Fritz Scharlach, Salzburg, December 1972Our beautiful Christmas carols, old and new, are presented here in settings, ranging from the easy to the more difficult, for various combinations of voices and instruments that may be available in domestic music-making or for a Christmas concert.
