Intermediate Repertoire All this repertoire is realistically graded and provides additional material that can be used alongside the Violin Playing books. It is personally recommended by me and has been used with great effect and enjoyment by pupils. GRADES 3 & 4 ANTHONY GIRARD- 'Ecoute L'Arbre et la Feuille' This simple but beautifully effective piece is inspired by the peom by Victor Hugo. It begins with a solo rendition of the theme and the entry of the piano provides a truly magic moment. It would be better played by a Grade Four player to make the most of the music. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment SHOSTAKOVICH - Albumstucke No2 'Leierkasten', No3 'The Puppet' & No4 'Dance' These character pieces have quirky harmonies and characterful accompaniments. (For other pieces in this book see Grade 1, 7 & 8) Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment PURCELL - Rondeau from Abdelaza Suite A great tune arranged by Stuart Barrie comes in 'Violin Favourites' by Fentone Music with other great pieces at various grade levels. A good purchace! Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment HAFLIDI HALLGRIMSSON - Nordic Impressions (6 easy pieces) There are six pieces in this book, each dedicated to a Nordic composer. No1 is very simple and is included in the repertoire for Grade 1 - 2. No3 suddenly shoots off to top G near the end but dropping that down and octave dosen't detract from the music at all and makes is possible for grade 4. Each piece reflects some element of the work and culture of the composer to whom it is dedicated. Performance notes are also provided by the composer. I can't recommend these highly enough. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment GRADES 5 & 6 FRANK BRIDGE - Lullaby & Country Dance This list would not be complete without some Frank Bridge. Like the John Ireland pieces this collection of Eleven Pieces (in two volumes) belongs in the Edwardian Tea Room. The Lullaby and the Country Dance are the best of the bunch but do try the others for yourself. The Lullaby is probably only Grade 4 tecnically and the Country Dance could be Grade 6 if played at a fast tempo. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment Country Dance only: Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT - Six Country Dances Richard Rodney Bennett has taken six tunes from a collection of country dances first published in 1651 and given them his inimitable treatment. I would place them technically at Grade 5 level but the first 'All In a Garden Green' is currently a changing graede 4 piece for trinity Guildhall. Every one is a winner. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment JEAN MARTINON - 'Histoire lointaine' This charming piece requires a good bowing technique, crossing strings and spiccato. The real surprise is in the piano part that give it its character. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment DIANA BURRELL - 'The Seccret of the Dark Pool in the Pine Forest' Despit its very long title this piece is a wonderful introduction to contemporary music. Pupils either love it or hate it. I love it. One way or another you will get a response! Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment BOHUSLAV MARTINU - Intermezzo There are four intermezzi in this book. They all have cross rhythms that will make the pupil count but the cross rhythems will develop a good sense of phrasing too. Nos 1, 2 & 4 are all quite lively and No3 is beautifully sensitive. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment BOHUSLAV MARTINU - Sonatina T^his Sonatina has three shortish movements. The violin part relatively simple and comfortable at Grade 5 but the piano part is far more complex. This is typically Martinu with cross rhythms and phrasings and is a good introduction to serious performance. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment ALBENIZ - Tango - arr Forbes Watson Wonderfully Spanish - very well known - greatly enjoyable - very playable at this level. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL Sonata in F major HWV 370 Probably the easiest of the sonatas and one of the most satisfying to play. Possibly not Handel but so what! Sonata in E major HWV 303 A little more difficult than the F major but still most tunefull. Also probably not Handel! Sonata in G minor HWV 368 Another great sonata of doubtful origin that exploits the sonorities of G minor wonderfully well. Here are two urtext editions of the complete sonatas both of which need bowing and fingering. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment (Barebreiter) Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment (Henel) DEBUSSY - Cakewalk Nicely arranged in D major (from Eb) by Stuart Barrie this entertaining piece requires good bow technique and a sense of rhythm. More Grade 6 than Grade 5. It comes in 'Violin Favourites' by Fentone Music with other great pieces at various grade levels. A good purchace! Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment JOHN IRELAND - Bagatelle & Cavatina I thought it right to include two pieces by John Ireland. They are written in the Victorian Drawingroom/Edwardian Tea Shop style but they are so well crafted they cannot be ignored. Like it or not, this is part of the heritage of the violin that harks back to the days when everyone claimed that the violin was their favourite instrument and tuned in to the radio on a Sunday evening to listen to Grand Hotel! The Cavatina is very sentimental and ripe for a lot of portamento. The Bagtelle is very 'jolly'. Cavatina: Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment Bagatelle: Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment DVORAK - Romantiche Stuck No1 Did DvoraK ever write anything that wasn't great to play? The Romantische Stuck No1 is comfortable at Grade 5/6 level but the other three pieces need more technique, both bowing and double stops. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment DVORAK - Humoresque in G Op.101/7 This edition avoids the double stops of other arrangements of which there are many. Buy Here - violin + piano accompaniment ELGAR - Selection Chanson de Matin - Chanson de Nuit - Salut d'Amour Three great pieces by Elgar that are so well known. Buy Here (Chanson de Matin & Chanson de Nuit) - violin + piano accompaniment Buy Here (Salut d'Amour) - violin + piano accompaniment Back to top ......