A piece with a good jazz feel, swung quavers and languid phrasing. There is lots of shifting, chromatic movement and some thumb position. There are pizzicato chords and double stops. It merits work with the piano for ensemble.
This Suite is in three short movements. The first has a slow introduction followed by a melody with pizzicato accompaniment. The second movement also has a slow introduction but this time to a rhythmic motif passing between the instruments. The last movement is slow and tranquil.
The parts are equal rhythmically while the range of notes is higher in the first two parts where there is some use of tenor clef.
The 7/8 Calypso melody is wonderfully catchy. Viola 3 is the easiest of the parts. All require good use of hooked bows and a strong rhythm. There is a pizzicato section in the middle. The range lies within 1st position for all parts.
Viola 1 can be played on the violin and there are many more good trios and quartets in this album.
Part pizzicato and part bowed students will love playing this trio. The rhythmic complexity is equal between the parts while the top part is slightly more adventurous going up to Eb. The other two parts are mostly 1st and half positions with some notes in 3rd position.
An attractive 19th Century Russian piece with a hint of the exotic. Requires swift changes between arco and pizzicato, familiarity with all positions up to 6th, and careful tuning of augmented seconds.
This is No.9 from 24 pieces for violin Op.50 by César Cui.
