Quartetstart Level 2 Mary Cohen

"This is a set of seven short quartet movements. I asked a quartet of players of Grade 6/7 to play through them for me. The titles are descriptive, intending to catch the imagination of the young players. This works well for some movements, eg Festive Fanfare and Waltz of the Skeletons There are performance suggestions printed under the titles of each movement in the score. These are aimed to help the performers themselves, rather than the teacher who would be coaching players of this level. The individual parts are full of extra instructions. such as 'leave bow on string during rests, pizz next', 'the rhythm is different here etc. Musically the movements are varied. Festive Fanfare and Video Diaries (also with a 5/8 movement) have slurred string crossings and pizzicato. Victorian Seaside Holiday includes time changes, tied notes, and pizzicato. Waltz of the Skeletons is fun: col legno, mutes, harmonics. Technically the parts are well matched with lots of interest for the viola/violin 3."

European String Teachers Association, Winter 1999