The well known Minuet from the Anna Madgalena Notebook gives lots of practice playing up a D major scale using 1st and 3rd positions. It also provides opportunities to develop the Minuet down-up-up bowing and other simple bowing patterns within a 3/4 time signature.
Beautiful piece that works really well on two cellos. Great for tenor clef work and rhythm (which looks much harder than it is). Also good for ensemble work, tonal control, period style and ornamentation. The sonata was originally written for two violins and keyboard.
This arrangement is for 4 solo violas accompanied by an orchestra of violas, in four parts. The solo parts are grades 6-8 while the ‘orchestral’ parts are grades 4-6. Some of the solo parts go up to 5th position. Players need good listening skills and know when to play down so that the solo parts can be heard. There is lots of trill practice and any performance will benefit from clean articulation.
This mixed ability arrangement, in the form of a Concerto Grosso, needs good listening and ensemble. The voices imitate and answer each other and knowing where the important voice lies is crucial. It is excellent for developing playing in the upper half of the bow. The first part goes into 4th position and all the quartet parts have running passages. The main four parts, each with solo moments, are grades 6-8 while there are two (optional) easier parts around grades 2-4.
A very good piece for developing rhythmic and ensemble skills. There are lots of fast semiquavers in regular arpeggio patterns. A contrasting theme requires good articulation.
