This first volume of the "Viola Recital Album" contains nine pieces that learners are especially fond of playing. They are based on English folk songs (such as "Baa Baa Black Sheep"), familiar German nursery rhymes ("Hänschen Klein") and less well-known but judiciously selected little compositions, e.g. by Moritz Hauptmann or Benjamin Cutter. The pieces can be interspersed in lessons at the teacher's discretion to enliven the repertoire.
Each piece is accompanied by duo version in which the teacher or an advanced learner can play the second part. There is also a piano part that can be played by the teacher or parents.
All the pieces in the four "Viola Recital Albums" represent welcome additions to the already varied repertoire of Egon Sassmannhaus's viola tutor "Early Start on the Viola."
Kurt Sassmannshaus is the editor of many string editions in the Bärenreiter catalogue. He continues in the tradition of "Early Start on String Instruments" founded by his father, Egon Sassmannshaus. The new editions mentioned here were developed by Kurt Sassmannshaus in conjunction with his wife Melissa Lusk and his son Christoph Sassmannshaus.