Embedded Files
PLUCKED INSTRUMENTS
BANJO
Robertson, T. 2011. Partita in G major.
For banjo and piano.
Written for a banjo player who decried the paucity of classical music written for the banjo.
Available here.
GUITAR
Kogan, I. 2012. Minor pentatonic's licks, op. 1.
A whirlwind of velocity for unaccompanied guitar.
Available here.
Rean, K. 2008. Escala menor pentatonica [Pentatonic minor patterns].
Another whirlwind of velocity for unaccompanied guitar.
Available here.
BOWED INSTRUMENTS
OPEN STRINGS AND HARMONICS
If you have a beginning student who begins lessons shortly before the recital season, but wish to include that student in your recital, one of these compositions could be the answer to your dilemma.
Chae Hyang-yeop. [1983] 1991. Train. In Yua gyoyuk jido jaryo jipe wehan dongyowa pianogok (Collection of songs and piano pieces for children). Seoul, South Korea: Changjisa: 46.
Transposed here for the beginning violin student.
Hamilton, A. M. 1951. Ten little solos for beginners in violin. New York: G. Schirmer.
In case anyone is interested, this composer was my mother's piano teacher in Woodville, MS.
No longer listed in the publisher's catalogue, but available from the archives department.
Reproduced by permission of copyright owner.
Hermann, F. 1903. One hundred exercises, op. 20. 2 vol. New York: Carl Fischer
Kelly, J. C. 1905. 50 easy melodies for the violin in the first position. Boston: Oliver Ditson Co.
Ramsier, P. 1988. The Gary Karr double bass book. 2 vol. Pacific, MO: Amati Productions.
This two-volume set contains many teacher/student duets in which the student part consists of harmonics only. There are many such duets in Volume 1 and one more on page 47 of Volume 2.
Retter, L. 1928. My toy regiment: Open-string two-step. St. Louis: Louis Retter Music Co.
Riegger, W. 1924. Begin with pieces: An elementary method for individual or class instruction of beginners on the violin. New York: G. Schirmer.
It is unfortunate that such a fine work has been neglected.
It is also surprising, considering that the composer is so well known.
Reproduced by permission of copyright owner.
This is a Polish folk dance. I have been told that Chopin didn't compose any cracoviennes because he was from a different area of Poland.
Robertson, T. 2011. Four Suzuki suites.
For violin and piano.
Suzuki teachers: do you have a recital date coming up?
And do you have students who haven't started the Twinkle variations yet?
I wrote these pieces just for you.
The student repeats the bowling exercises while the piano accompanist plays something which could help sustain the interest of the audience.
The four suites are titled The Pepperoni Pizza Suite, The Yokatta Suite, The Stop Pony 'Suite, and The Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich Suite.
Score is available here.
Evans, C. 1982. Take a cello: Six easy pieces for the beginner cello player using open strings only. Sevenoaks, Kent: Paxton Music Ltd.
For cello and piano.
_____. 1983. Basic bass : six easy pieces for the beginner bass player using open strings only. Sevenoaks, Kent: Paxton Music Ltd.
For bass and piano.
Smith, H. 1921. May pole dance, op. 36 no. 4. New York: G. Schirmer,
The violin part plays open strings D and A. Since these notes are usually the chord roots, the violin part can be reassigned to a bass instrument.
Toch, E. c. 1954. Duos, for two violins for teacher and pupil, with open strings only in the pupil's part, op. 17. Los Angeles: Affiliated Musicians.
White, C. 1949. Suite for violin (on open strings): with tuneful accompaniment for piano. London: Joseph Williams, Ltd.
Three pieces totaling 8 pages.
OPEN STRING AND ONE FINGER
Hamilton, A. M. 1951. Ten little solos for beginners in violin. New York: G. Schirmer.
Hermann, F. 1903. One hundred exercises, op. 20. 2 vol. New York: Carl Fischer.
Riegger, W. 1924. Begin with pieces: An elementary method for individual or class instruction of beginners on the violin.
New York: G. Schirmer.
Robertson, T. 2010. Once an apple.
Folk song arrangement for violin and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Once an apple.
Same as above. For viola and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Once an apple.
Same as above. For cello and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Once an apple.
Same as above. For contrabass and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2011. Partita in G major.
For banjo and piano.
Written for a banjo player who decried the lack of art music written for his instrument.
Lasts about 15 minutes.
Score and solo part available here.
OPEN STRING AND TWO FINGERS
Riegger, W. 1924. Begin with pieces: An elementary method for individual or class instruction of beginners on the violin.
New York: G. Schirmer.
OPEN STRING AND TWO FINGERS
Robertson, T. 2000. Bachianas Americanas.
For violin and piano. Lasts about 3 minutes.
Variations on the religious song which goes "I've a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun . . . Look away beyond the blue."
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2000. Bachianas Americanas.
For viola and piano. Same as above
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2000. Bachianas Americanas.
For cello and piano. Same as above
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2000. Bachianas Americanas.
For contrabass and piano. Same as above
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2000. Lullaby.
For violin and piano. Lasts about 2 minutes.
Solo part consists of C and A played as an ostinato.
Score available here.
_____. 2000. Lullaby.
For viola and piano. Same as above.
Score available here.
_____. 2000. Lullaby.
For cello and piano. Same as above.
Score available here.
_____. 2000. Lullaby.
For contrabass and piano. Same as above.
Score available here.
_____. 2010. Spoken Intonation Suite. For violin and piano.
"Doctor Livingston, I presume," "Why are you mad at me?" "I was just kidding," "Kevin has a girlfriend," and "That's what you think" are repeated as ostinato over a piano accompaniment.
Score available here.
_____. 2010. Spoken Intonation Suite. For viola and piano.
Same as above.
Score available here.
_____. 2010. Spoken Intonation Suite. For cello and piano.
Same as above.
Score available here.
_____. 2010. Spoken Intonation Suite. For contrabass and piano.
Same as above.
Score available here.
ALL FINGERS
Maag, R. R. 1974. A comparison of the effectiveness of pentatonic versus diatonic instruction in the intonation of beginning string students. Doctoral dissertation, University of Texas at Austin.
This study found no significant difference in favor of pentatonic instruction. In my opinion, the fault lay in the methodology of the study, not the hypothesis.
The pentatonic curriculum for the experimental group is worth salvaging.
Magatagan, M. 2012. Star of the county down.
Arrangement of an Irish folk song for viola and harp.
Available here.
Parsons, M. 1988. Pentatonic music for solo violin. n. c.: Forward Contemporary Music.
Although not written for pedagogic purposes, this 5-minute unaccompanied violin piece can be played by a first year student.
In 1969, this British composer helped found the Scratch Orchestra, in which members of all levels of musical skill were encouraged to improvise.
Rean, K. n. d. Pentatonic minor patterns. For unaccompanied advanced guitar.
Score available here.
Riegger, W. 1924. Begin with pieces: An elementary method for individual or class instruction of beginners on the violin.
New York: G. Schirmer.
Robertson, T. 2000. Iambic tetrameter.
For violin in first position with piano accompaniment.
Lasts about 2 minutes.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2000. Symphony in D Major.
First violin part has octave divisi passages in which the upper part involves third position.
Otherwise, all parts are entirely in first position.
Lasts about 17 minutes.
Score and parts available here.
_____. 2002. Pretty Saro.
Folk song arrangement for violin and piano.
Lasts about 3 3/4 minutes.
Score and solo part available here
_____. 2009. Ten preludes.
For viola in first position with piano accompaniment.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Sonatina coreana.
For violin in first position with piano accompaniment.
Sonata based on Korean folk melodies. Lasts about 17 minutes.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Rock'n'roll song.
For cello in first position with piano accompaniment.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Variations on a theme by Gottschalk.
For violin in first position with piano accompaniment. Lasts about 5 minutes.
A setting on a theme found on the classroom vocal page
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2010. Variations on a Korean folk song.
Student/teacher violin duet.
Score and parts available here.
_____. 2010. Variations on a Korean folk song.
For viola and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2011. Variations on The Muffin Man.
For violin and piano.
A set of variations with commentary, using the terminology of William E. Caplin in his book Classical Form.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2011. Variations on The Muffin Man.
Same as above. For viola and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2011. Variations on The Muffin Man.
Same as above. For cello and piano.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2011. Short piece for clarinet and cello.
Score and parts available here.
_____. 2011. Short piece for oboe and cello.
Transcription of the above.
Score and parts available here.
Bennett, Richard Rodney. 1979. Up bow, down bow. Borough Green, Kent: Novello.
The first piece is on open strings played pizzicato.
The second piece includes open strings, first finger, and double stops. Recommended for hexadecamysists (those who disapprove of square, 16-measure melodies).
Also available in a viola version.
Hodgson, P. 1933. Pentatonic violin method, 4 vol. London: Hawkes & Son.
I don't know why the author chose this title. The method includes diatonic scales, folk song arrangements, classical arrangements, and exercises.
However, there are occasional student/teacher duets which are appropriately entitled "Pentatonic Duets."
Primrose, W. [1929] 1956. Five Negro spirituals. London: Oxford University Press.
For violin and piano. "Rise, mourners" could be played
by an outstanding violin student.
Russell-Smith, G. 1964. Charades. London: Mills Music, Ltd.
In the first piece, "Chinese Mandarin," the violin soloist plucks open strings while the piano plays the melody.
The next two pieces use open strings and first finger.
"The Old Mississippi" is in a folk song style.
"Ducks in Mud" is a 32-measure waltz.
The last two pieces use the first and second fingers.
In "The Red Train," eighth note figures simulate movement down the track.
"Hayseed" imitates a barn dance.
The only pying's are in the fourth piece.
Skilton, C. S. 1917. Two Indian dances. New York: Carl Fischer.
For string quartet. A good high school quartet should be able to play this.
If you have any comments, questions,
or suggested additions to the collection,
Robertson, T. 2010. Four Korean folk songs. For contrabass and piano.
Open strings and octave harmonics only.
Available in pdf format here.
Robertson, T. 2010. Four Korean folk songs. For guitar and piano.
Open strings and octave harmonics only.
Robertson, T. 2010. Four Korean folk songs. For bass guitar and piano.
Open strings and octave harmonics only.
Available in pdf format here.
_____. 2010. Partita in D major. For violin and piano.
Lasts about 7 minutes.
Score and solo part available here.
_____. 2011. Four Pre-Twinkle Suites. For violin and piano.
Recital pieces for Suzuki students preparing to learn the Twinkle Variations.
In each composition or folk song arrangement, the solo part consists of an ostinato taken either from the Twinkle Variations or from page 8 of the student book.
The Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich Suite
_____. 2011. Siciliano. For unaccompanied violin and cello.
Score and parts available here
Smith, H. 1921. May Day dance, op. 36 no. 4. New York: G. Schirmer.
The piece is excerpted from a work entitled Eight Recreations on the Open Strings.
If you know where this work can be found, please write back.
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