Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThese seven short pieces each create a special picture in sound and are ideal for teaching young quartets to use their imagination when they play. Indeed in Wisselton Wasselton here's to good cheer they are required to do a small amount of acting and improvising. Structures are simple, but players are often kept on their toes rhythmically with changing time signatures. There are also many colourful string effects such as sul ponticello, portamento and harmonics; in A blizzard blows in from the north the whole tone scale is used. The feel is of impressionistic sketches. Sometimes a mood is caught with a jolly tune, sometimes with the mere suggestion of a texture. Titles, and tempo indications, are evocative; indeed as I played ln the watery sunlight snow melts and drips I'm sure I felt myself getting - very, very gradually - slightly wet! This is excellent teaching material. Cohen's performance notes give clear technical help and the score and parts are beautifully presented with ample rehearsal letters and bar numbers.
European String Teachers Association, Summer 2001
