Georg Mertens - Sheetmusic

Sheet Music

All sheet music on this page has been edited by Georg Mertens

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To the Editions of Sheet Music

"All my editions are written by hand. Computer music programs seem to have there own mind. If you want to write fingerings in, you have always to enter a conversation with someone who says: you can't do that, you have to do it my way." G.M.

Copyright for all sheet music available from this page by Georg Mertens.
Copying of "free sheet music" welcome. Any use for commercial purposes or publishing without permission of the author prohibited.

I would appreciate a notice (best a prgram) of performances including music from this webpage (send to "Contact" right column)

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A comment to free sheetmusic and sheetmusic with a fee

"Most music we buy is written by composers who are dead, copyright is public domain. The music available today is usually edited by someone who was known to the publisher, not necessarily a good editor. Often after I had paid for the editor, I got the white out and a pencil and got virtually rid of all the suggestions, because they were not good. Then I wrote something more sensible in. I paid only the person, who wrote the (not good) markings in - nothing to the composer.

Therefore I only charge for music, which I composed or where transcribing was as involved as writing a new piece.
Music with just suggestions of bowings and fingerings is free.
I decided also to offer methods for free to allow teachers to experiment with the material.
I appreciate comments and feedback.

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All FREE Sheetmusic downloads as A5 / Sheetmusic with a fee will be send as email within a week and prints out as A4
There are FREE samples of p1 of most pieces. Samples print out as A5.

Cello Solo pieces (click here)

Cello Duos - up to 5 Cellos (click here)

Violin / Recorder & Cello Duos (click here)

Cello & Guitar Duos (click here)

Guitar Solos & Duos - including student pieces and TABS (click here)

Guitar accompaniments to famous violin Gypsy pieces (click here)

Violin / Recorder & Guitar Duos (click here)

CELLO METHOD [ A method that works well! Systematic and musically substantial. All pieces accompanied with 2nd cello, c 90 cello Duos ] (click here)

DIFFICULTY is marked in degrees of: 1 = very easy to 10 = very difficult
[Examples for cello: Breval Sonata C 1st mov. - Grade 4 / The Swan - Grade 6 / Brahms Sonata e min 1st mov. - Grade 8 / Haydn Concerto C maj 1st mov - Grade 9 / Dvorak Concerto b min 1st mov - Grade 10]
[Examples for guitar: Sor Study b min (No 5) - Grade 4 / Bach Prelude d min- Grade 6 / Villa-Lobos Prelude 2 or 5 - Grade 8 / Barrios Valse No 3 or 4 - Grade 9 / most Concertos Grade 10]

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Cello Solo pieces

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

Not Solo, but interesting: Pachelbel Canon in D - A not so boring cello part
Possibly every cello player, every student complains: this cello part is so boring. - I got so bored, I started to embellish the part. It fits better and it evn sounds better (recorded with the Blue Mountains Trio on the CD: Music for Grand Dining)
Free download

Pachelbel cello p1

Pachelbel cello p2

Listen to Pachelbel Canon with "The Blue Mountains Trio" (including the not so boring cello part) , track 5

S O L O S

Isaac Albeniz - Asturias [ Leyenda ] (complete transcription)
originally for piano, transcribed by Georg Mertens
5p [grading 9 out of 10] $5.80

Listen to "Asturias" transcription for cello solo, track 7

Sample: Asturias P1

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Listen to "Asturias" on guitar, track 3 (guitar: Georg Mertens)

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(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

Georg Mertens - Spanish Romance
after the Anonymus guitar version known from the movie as "Jeux Inderdit"
3p [grading 9 out of 10] $3.80

Listen to "Spanish Romance" transcription for cello solo, track 15

Sample: Spanish Romance P1

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Listen to "Spanish Romance", track 17 (guitar: Georg Mertens)

Georg Mertens - Tango Celloguitar
This piece uses guitar techniques like pizzicato tremolo and rasguado on the cello.
Very effective, fun, but very hard for left and right hand. 6p
[grading 10 out of 10] $6.80

Listen to "Tango Celloguitar", track 12

Sample: Tango Celloguitar P1

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Georg Mertens - Variations on Neidhardt's "Maienzeit / Maytime"
for solo cello 2p [grading 8 out of 10] $2.80

Listen to "Variations on Maienzeit", track 2

See Georg Mertens perform "Variations on Maienzeit" live on Youtube (click here)

John Dowland - Melancholy Galliard
transcribed for cello solo 2p (original: lute) [grading 7 out of 10] $2.80

Sample: Dowland p1

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Georg Mertens - Cathedral Ciaconna
for solo cello 5p [grading 9 out of 10] $5.80

Listen to "Cathedral Ciaconna", track 1

Sample: Cathedral Ciaconna P1

See Georg Mertens perform "Cathedral Ciaconna" live on Youtube (click here)

(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

Georg Mertens - Fantasy on Cathedral Cave
for solo cello 5p [grading 10 out of 10] $5.80

Listen to "Fantasy on Cathedral Cave", track 7

Sample: Fantasy on Cath Cave P1

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Astor Piazzolla - Verano Porteno (complete transcription for cello)
originally Quintet, arranged by Georg Mertens for solo cello 3p
[grading 8-9 out of 10] $3.80

Sample: Verano Porteno P1

Listen to "Verano Porteno" transcription for cello solo, track 8

See Astor Piazzolla himself (Quintet) perform "Verano Porteno" live on Youtube (click here)

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Heitor Villa-Lobos - Prelude No 3
originally guitar, arranged by Georg Mertens for solo cello 2p
[grading 9 out of 10] $2.80

Listen to "Villa-Lobos Prelude 3" transcription for cello solo, track 11

Sample: Villa-Lobos Prel 3 P1

Vincente Sojo - Cantico
originally guitar, arrangement for cello solo by Georg Mertens 2p [grading 8 out of 10] $2.80

Listen to "Cantico" , track 5 (guitar: Georg Mertens)

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Camille Saint Saens - The Swan (Le Cygne) - see below for a cello 2 & 3 to "The Swan"!
cello part only [grading 6 out of 10]
Free download

The Swan

Listen to "The Swan" (cello solo - bowings and fingerings as on this web page) track 4

See "The Swan" with Georg & Gavin Live - Music Video of the Year / Sydney Video Makers, Winner 2009 (click here)

(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

Cello 2 & 3 to "The Swan" (cello accompaniment) by Georg Mertens
Originall the whole cycle "The Carnival of the Animals" had been written for 2 pianos, just for a children's birthday party.
How about a cellist's birthday with a performance of "The Swan" by 3 cellos? Or a full cello ensemble playing "The Swan", just for fun!
Cello 2 incorporates the theme as an echo and imitates the water like effect, which is usually symbolised by the part of the harp / piano.
Cello 3 reminds of Bach's Prelude in G major from Suite No 1, made to fit "The Swan"!
It all fits like magic - even with the piano on top of the three cellos.
It would be very nice of you all to send me a copy of the birthday invitations where my swan is played! (No worries, royalties will not be charged. Of course any commercial use excluded)
As a birthday present to all cellists these scores will always remain for free.

Cello 2 to "The Swan"

Cello 3 to "The Swan"

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Bach / Gounod - Meditation / Ave Maria
cello part only, Free download

Ave Maria (sheet music)

Listen to Ave Maria (fingering and bowing as on this web page), track 9

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Henry Eccles - Sonata G minor / Prelude (largo) & Courante (allegro)
cello part only [grading 7 out of 10]
This edition here includes in the Prelude for the repeat optional Baroque ornaments.
Free download

Eccles Prel

Eccles Cour p1

Eccles Cour p2

Listen to "Eccles Sonata" (fingering and bowing as on this web page), track 5 & 6

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Anonymus / Collection Forster 1546 - Ich armes Maegdelein / Poor Maiden me [grading 4 out of 10]
Comment: This beautiful song is probably composed by a woman of the Renaissance, mourning over her lover who doesn't seem to return from war.
Free download

Listen to 'Ich armes Maegdelein' track 17

Ich armes Maegdelein

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Antonio Vivaldi - Sonata e minor, Largo I
With Baroque ornaments, cello part only [grading 8 out of 10]
Free downlad

Vivaldi Largo 1

Listen to 'Vivaldi Largo 1' (ornaments as on this web page) track 11

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Antonio Vivaldi - Sonata e minor, Largo II
as solo version [grading 8 out of 10]
In this version the solo cello plays the melody plus the original accompaniment in double stops. Sounds very effective.
Free download

Vivaldi Largo 2

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Gabriel Marie - La Cinqantaine
(with sensible bowings) cello part only / see CD1 [grading 3-4 out of 10]
This is a copy of my pre 1900 print.
This piece is dedicated to the 50th birthday ("cinquantaine") of Monsieur E.Binon, cellist of "the opera" (?). This means, although transcribed for virtually every existing instrument, the piece is originally written for cello.
Free download

La Cinquantaine p1

La Cinquantaine p2

Listen to 'La Cinquantaine' (bowings as on this web page) track 18

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Manuel de Falla - Nana, [grading 8 out of 10]
cello part only
(with more expressive fingerings; also including the correction of the rhythm mistake of all editions in bar 8)
Free download

Nana

Listen to Nana (cello solo - fingering and bowing as on this web page) track 6

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Georg Mertens - Cadenza to Haydn Cello Concerto C major, 1st movement,
more interesting than the printed cadenza and more fitting in style than the cadenzas by Benjamin Britten and Maurice Gendron. 2p [grading 9 out of 10] $2.80
Please send a message when performed. Scanning and emailing the program would be great.

Haydn p1

Georg Mertens - Variations on "Sakura, Sakura"
[Theme: Traditional Japanese] for cello solo. 2p [grading 7 out of 10] $2.80

Sample:
Sakura Variations p1

See "Sakura Variations" (click here)

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Jules Massenet - Meditation from Thaiss
Arrangement for cello solo by Georg Mertens (matches violin/piano accompaniment part)
2p [grading 8 out of 10]
Free download

Thais p1

Thais p2

Listen to "Meditation from Thais" (cello solo - fingering and bowing as on this web page), track 13

See "Meditation from Thais"
(click here)

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BOWINGS and FINGERINGS of the following CELLO STUDENT PIECES may be copied by watching recordings on YouTube:

* Bach Arioso
* Bach Prelude & Courante of Suite No 1 G major
* Breval Sonata C major
* Handel Aria
* Popper Fond Recollections
* Romberg Sonata e minor
* Squire Tarantella
* Tschaikovsky Valse Sentimental

Listen to Favourite Cello Student Pieces

View Cello Student Pieces with Georg live on YouTube
(click here)

.(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

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Cello Duos, up to 5 Cellos - This series will be extended soon.

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

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Georg F. Handel - Silent Worship for 2 to 5 cellos [grading 4 out of 10]
Originally Duett with continuo / orchestra;
arranged for 2 cellos (melody C1/C2) with cello continuo obligato plus 2 cellos for upper (c4) and middle part (c5) of the continuo.
If played with 3 cellos - melodies plus continuo obligato - the continuo sounds better played with the bow.
If played with 5 cellos, all 3 continuo cellos pizzicato.
(Note: last crotchet (1/4) of bar 17 to bar 19 is missing in virtually all movies).
This music is very suitable for groups of students - with the three continuo cellos all plucking away accompanying the 2 melodies.
Free download

Silent W C1

Silent W C2

Silent W cont obl

Silent W c4

Silent W c5

This song is featured in the movie "Emma" (to see click here)

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J.S.Bach - Chorals for 2 Cellos [grading 2 or 3 out of 10]
So many students asked me for Chorals by Bach. Here are a few.

1 Jesu meine Freude (part of "Cello Method" below)
2 Christus der uns selig macht (part of "Cello Method" below)
3 Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten
4 Nun ruhen all Waelder (part of "Cello Method" below)
5 An Wasserfluessen Babylon
6 Freue dich meine Seele
7 O Haupt voll Blut umwunden (part of "Cello Method" below)

1 Jesu meine

2 Christus

3 Wer nur

4 Nun ruhen

5 An Wasser

6 Freue dich

7 O Haupt

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Domenico Dalla Bella - Sonata C major: Giga
An absolute favourite when I learned the cello as a boy; an ideal piece to introduce the tenor clef (part of "Cello Method" below) .
Free download

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Dalla Bella Giga p1

Dalla Bella Giga p2

Listen to Dalla Bella Giga,
track 4

See Georg with Dalla Bella "Giga" Live on Youtube

Dalla Bella Acc (cello 2)

Archangalo Corelli - Sonata opus 5 No 8 e minor (originally for violin and harpsichord): Preludio - Allemande - Sarabande - Gigue
I kept the original key. The cello solo part is put in a range not to exceed a difficulty of grade 6.
The cello continuo is partly one octave lower than the original to accommodate the lower melody part.
The two quite low cellos together remind of music by M. Marais.
(Free downloads)

Preludio

Prelude cello 1

Prelude continuo

Allemande

Allemande cello 1

Allemande cont.

Sarabande

Sarabande cello 1

Sarabande cont.

Gigue

Gigue cello 1

Gigue continuo

See also this Corelli Sonata for violin & guitar and the Sarabande for cello & guitar

Those were the Days my Friend or Dorogoi Dlinnoyu [Boris Fomin]
This instrumental tune became known as the song "Those were the Days" with Mary Hopkin in 1968
- with accompaniment for 2nd cello (part of "Cello Method" below) .
Free download

Those were the Days

Those were.. Acc.

Camille Saint Saens - The Swan (Le Cygne) for 3 cellos
[grading 6 out of 10]
Free download

The Swan

Cello 2 to "The Swan"

Cello 3 to "The Swan"

Listen to "The Swan" (cello solo - bowings and fingerings as on this web page) track 4

See "The Swan" with Georg & Gavin live - Music Video of the Year, Winner 2009 (click here)

Cello 2 & 3 to "The Swan" (cello accompaniment) by Georg Mertens
Originall the whole cycle "The Carnival of the Animals" had been written for 2 pianos, just for a children's birthday party.
How about a cellist's birthday with a performance of "The Swan" by 3 cellos? Or a full cello ensemble playing "The Swan", just for fun!
Cello 2 incorporates the theme as an echo and imitates the water like effect, which is usually symbolised by the part of the harp / piano.
Cello 3 reminds of Bach's Prelude in G major from Suite No 1, made to fit "The Swan"!
It all fits like magic - even with the piano on top of the three cellos.
It would be very nice of you all to send me a copy of the birthday invitations where my swan is played! (No worries, royalties will not be charged. Of course any commercial use excluded)
As a birthday present to all cellists these scores will always remain for free.

Theme from "For Elise" [L.v.Beethoven] with Accompaniment for 2nd cello (part of "Cello Method" below) .
Free download

"For Elise" for 2 cellos

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Autumn Leaves (La Feuilles de Mortes) [J.Kosma] with accompaniment for 2nd cello (part of "Cello Method" below) .
Free download

Autumn Leaves

Cello 2 to Autumn Leaves

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Thomas Morley - Almain arr. for 2 cellos (see also recorder / cello & guitar).
Parts 2p [grading 4 out of 10]
Free download

Listen to "Almain" track 14 (recorder & guitar)

Almain cello 1

Almain cello 2

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Henry Purcell - Dido's Lament from "Dido and Aeneas" arr. for 2 cellos
[grading 4 out of 10]
Free download

Dido's Lament cello 1

Dido's Lament cello 2

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Please find in the "Cello Method" below c 90 Duos for 2 Cellos.

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Violin / Recorder & Cello Duos - This series will be extended soon.

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

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Georg Mertens - "Anniversay Valse" (for Geoff & Mary Mitchell)
violin& cello [grading 6 out of 10] 4p $4.80

Sample: Anniversary V. vln p1

Anniversay V. cel p1

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Georg Mertens "Multicultural Suite" for diverse recorders (Blockfloete) & cello

Multicultural Suite complete $12

Multicultural Suite - Single Movements:

French Ouverture
for treble recorder & cello
Parts 4p [grading 6 out of 10], $4.80

Listen to "French Ouverture " track 6

Scherzo for treble recorder & cello 2p
+ Barbarian Intermezzo for descant recorder (sopranino) & cello
Parts 4p [grading 6 out of 10], $4.80

Listen to "Scherzo & Barbarian Intermezzo" track 7 & 8

Arabia Nocturna for descant recorder & cello
Parts 4p [grading 8 out of 10], $4.80

Listen to "Arabia Nocturna" track 9

Sample: Arabia Nocturna P1

(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

Didgeridoo for bass recorder & cello
Parts 2p [grading 6 out of 10], This movement contains improvised elements. $2.80

Listen to "Didgeridoo" track 10

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Cimarosa - Larghetto
violin & cello [grading 3-4 out of 10]
Free download

Cimarosa vln

Cimarosa cel

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Thomas Morley - Almain arr. for recorder / violin & cello (see also violin & guitar / 2 cellos).
Parts 2p [grading 4 out of 10]
Free download

Almain violin / rec

Almain cello

Archangalo Corelli - Sonata opus 5, No 8 - e minor (originally for violin and harpsichord):
Preludio - Allemande - Sarabande - Gigue
In my opinion this is the most beautiful of the set of 12 violin sonatas op 8.
There exists a transcription for guitar of the harpsichord part by Schaller (Universal Edition, Karl Scheit).
Although the print is very fine, I found the guitar part on the border of ugly and also clumsy to play.
I transcribed the guitar part from scratch; I feel it flows beautiful and is not even harder to play.

For the violin & harpsichord part please click here for a free 19th century edition (Public Domain)

Corelli op 8 No 5 violin & harpsichord

The cello continue plays the lowest part of the bass line.

Corelli Sonata op 5, No 8 - Guitar Parts
for Preludio - Allemande - Sarabande - Gigue [grading 7 out of 10]

Corelli Prelude guitar

Allemande guitar

Sarabande guitar

Gigue guitar

See also this Corelli Sonata for 2 cellos and the Sarabande for cello & guitar

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Cello & Guitar Duos - This series will be extended soon.

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

Thomas Morley - Almain arr. for cello & guitar (see also recorder/violin & guitar / 2 cellos).
Parts 2p [grading 4 out of 10]
Free download

Listen to "Almain" track 14 (recorder & guitar)

Almain cello

Almain guitar

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Anonymus - The sick Tune for cello (recorder) & guitar
Three Songs together, 5p [grading 6 out of 10]
Free download

The Sick Tune for rec / cel & guit

Listen to "Sick Tune " track 15 (recorder & guitar)

Archangalo Corelli - Sonata opus 5 No 8 e minor (originally for violin and harpsichord): Sarabande
I kept the original key. The cello solo part is put in a range not to exceed a difficulty of grade 6.
Free download

Sarabande cello

Sarabande guitar

See also this Corelli Sonata complete for violin & guitar and for 2 cellos

guitar

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Guitar Solos & Duos

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

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Phalese - Passamezzo
- A stunning little dance from 1560
solo guitar, TAB and notes [grading 3-4 out of 10]
Free download

Passamezzo

Listen to "Passamezzo" track 8 (Georg Mertens - guitar)

Domenico Scarlatti / Sonata A major - Andante cantabile
K.208 / L.238 solo guitar [grading 7-8 out of 10]
Free download

Scarlatti Son A p1

Scarlatti Son A p2

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J.S.Bach - Praeambulum C major
- No 1 from the "Klavierbuechlein fuer Wilhelm-Friedemann (Bach)"
BWV 924 transcription for solo guitar [grading 6-7 out of 10]
Free download

Bach Praeambulum C major BWV 924

See Georg playing Bach Praeambulum C major Live on Youtube

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STUDENT PERFORMANCE PIECES - Guitar Duos This series will be extended soon.

All pieces include an accompaniment for the teacher

These pieces sound harder than they are, are fun to play and teach at the same time specific musical and technical facilities.
Music for beginners does not need to be boring! We are learning much faster, when it's interesting.

PART 1 - Easy reading of strings 1-3, only open bass strings. No shifts. [grading 1 out of 10]

1 E - Drive ( G.M. )
Originally written for a student, who could not keep the note E in mind. Fast, strict rhythm, alternating stroke. A piece for string 1 & 2 only.
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E - Drive

2 Road to the Mountains ( G.M. )
Melody for string 1-3 with accompaniment.
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Road to the Mts

3 B - Drive ( G.M. )
Focussing on the note B. Teaching triplets, alternating stroke. String 1 - 3 only.
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B- drive

4 Blind Study ( G.M. )
Enhances the awareness to put the fingers on the correct strings. String 1 - 3 only.
- 4B Accompaniment to "Blind Study" and Exercise to read the open Bass strings
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Blind Study

Acc. to Blind Study

5 Evening ( G.M. )
Introducing open bass strings, holding fingers down in the melody. No notes together or chords.
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Evening

6 Flamencino I ( G.M. )
Rhythmical melody, open bass strings. End note: melody and thumb together.
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Sample: 6 Flamencino I

Flamencino Acc.

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PART 2 - Builts up the facility of bass string playing and reading. [grading 1 to 2 out of 10]
7 Twinkle, twinkle little Star
In A major. Melody and bass notes (open strings) together; with accompaniment.

Twinkle, twinkle ....

8 The Clown ( G.M. )
Thumb facility on open bass strings. Accidentals. Melody and bass together.
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The Clown

The Clown Acc.

9 Bass Study after Fernando Sor ( G.M. )
Bass notes. Moving theme in e minor, fast.

Bass Study after Sor

10 Asturiana ( G.M. )
Asturias theme, a student's request. In A minor. 2nd position in last line.
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Asturiana

Asturiana Acc.

11 Flamencino II ( G.M. )
Includes all notes on the 3 bass strings. Introducing simple chords. Fast.
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6 Flamencino II

Flamencino II Acc.

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PART 3 - Easy Position play and shifts. [grading 2 out of 10]

12 Bumpy Road ( G.M. )
A major. All in 2nd position.
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Bumpy Road

13 Tangillo ( G.M. )
Tango rhythm. Frequent shifting between positions 1 - 2. In A major. With accompaniments of rhythm and solo guitar. Solo guitar part comes also in TABs and is suitable for plectrum / electric guitar.

13 Tangillo

Acc. to Tangillo

Solo part to Tangillo

Solo Tab to Tangillo

14 Romance ( G.M. )
Introducing position play between pos 1 and 5. Moderate speed.
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Romance

15 Synchronisation Study ( G.M. )
Dynamic expressions. Tricky finger lifting. Positions 1 and 5.
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Syncronisation Study

16 Concert Toccatina ( G.M. ) Includes a change of positions exercise.
A student wished to play J.S.Bach's Toccata in d minor. I explained, it's impossible on guitar, but promised to write something very similar.

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Concert Toccatina

Toccatina Acc.

17 Outer Space Sounds - unaccompanied ( G.M. )
Atmospheric / 12 Tone music.

Outer Space Sounds

Prelude No 1 (after H.Villa-Lobos) (for John Spiller)
John asked me if I could write him a similar piece to Villa-Lobos Prelude I, but without the hard bits [grading 4 out of 10]. 3p $3.80

Sample: Prelude No 1 p1

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FREE Guitar TABS of Classical Pieces

I wrote this Tabs in 1979 before Tabs became popular. I used a system, which combines our Tab of today with the Rhythm
writing of our traditional music notation. This way of writing did not become popular although I find it by far superior to our Tabs of today.
(see also the last Tab from c 1540) .

Free downloads for now

J.S.Bach - Bourre in e minor (Tab)
- from Lute Suite No 1 [grading 6 out of 10]

Bach Bourree P1

Bach Bourree P2

Listen to Bach Bourree, (guitar: Georg Mertens) track 15

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Anonymus - Spanish Romance (Tab)
- One of the most famous pieces ever written for guitar [grading 6 out of 10]

Spanish Romance P1

Spanish Romance P2

Listen to Spanish Romance, (guitar: Georg Mertens) track 17

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F. Tarrega - Lagrima (Tab)
- A beautiful slow piece, very Romantic. Lagrima means "tear" [grading 5 out of 10]

Lagrima

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F. Sor - Study in B minor (Tab)
- beautiful simplicity. Also technically a fantastic study [grading 4 out of 10]

Sor B minor P1

Sor B minor P2

Listen to Sor Study B minor, (guitar: Georg Mertens) track 16

See Georg playing Sor Study B minor Live on Youtube

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Gaspar Sanz - Canarios (Tab)
- A tricky fast piece with multiple slurs (pull-ups and hammerings) in a changing beat of 6/8 and 3/4 [grading 7 out of 10]

Sanz Canarios P1

Sanz Canarios P2

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Anonymus - Greensleeves (in the version of Francis Cutting 1580) (Tab)
- [grading 2 out of 10]
On the listening Link on the right hand side you can hear the abolutely beautiful set of Variations on Greensleeves for recorder and guitar by an anonymus composer from the early 18th century.
(The music for these variations will be added to this page in 2010)

Greensleeves

Listen to "Greensleeves Variations" (for recorder & guitar) track 1

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(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

Milan- Pavan 1 (c 1540)
- [grading 4 out of 10]

To the History of TABS (Tabulatures) :
By many Classical players TAB's are today regarded as "amateurish", unprofessional. However, Tabulatures are the original writing for guitar & lute.
This TAB here is a reprint of the original from c 1540!
What we call today our standard music notation is in fact also historically a Tab. It was introduced as a Tab for organ: The notes represent the white keys, any derivation needs an "accidental", a # or b and are the black keys in between . The base for this scale is natural a minor, the letters a - g from the alphabet, the same notes as for C major.
This is also the reason why our standard writing is inconvenient for guitar. Sometimes from one note to the other it's one fret (a semitone), at other times two (a tone). In the standard notation we need to learn the Tab for the white keys of the piano before we can translate the music into "guitar language".
Our symbols for the accidentals b and # and natural are going back to the gothic writing of b and h. The h was the first black key to accomodate our non phrygian scale starting from A, also used in the major scale as the leading note. In fact in Germany the note B represents our Bb, where as the note B is in German still called H. The German notes ABC are the start of a phrygian scale, pointing to the Eastern origin of our scale system.The English system threw the H out altogether (In Westminster Abbey is an early Renaissance painting still showing the scale including the notes B and H pointing out that the letter H for our B of today had been used in Britain as well).

Milan Pavan, Tab

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Guitar Accompaniments to famous violin Gypsy pieces:

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

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Vittorio Monti - Czardas
Composed by an Italian living in London, dedicated to a French woman, today regarded as the quintessential Hungarian Gypsy piece.
Guitar accompaniment including introduction. 3p [grading 7 out of 10] $ 3.80

Violin Part (public domain):

Czardas vln p1

Czardas vln p2

Czardas vln p3

Sample: Czardas Guit. P1

Johannes Brahms - Hungarian Dance No 5
Guitar accompaniment. 2p [grading 7 out of 10] $2.80

Violin Part (public domain):

Hung. Dance 5 vln p1

Hung. Dance 5 vln p2

Listen to Czardas with guitar acc track 17

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(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

To
Hungarian Fantasy by W. Russ-Bovelino
[grading 7 out of 10]
Free download

Hung. Fantasy p1

Hung. Fantasy p2

Listen to "Hungarian Fantasy" (guitar part as on this web page), track 8

See the Paganini Duo's "Hungarian Fantasy " live on Youtube

To
Hundred Kisses (Hungarian Traditional Gypsy song)
[grading 5 out of 10]
Free download

100 Kisses

Listen to "Hundred Kisses" (guitar part as on thsi web page), track 2

See the Paganini Duo's "Hundred Kisses " live on Youtube

The violin parts of Hngarian Fantasy & Hundred Kisses are published in "The Gipsy Violin" / Vienna World Music

To
Lento of Zigeunerweisen / Gypsy Airs by Pablo Sarasate
[grading 6 out of 10]
Free download

Zigeunerweisen

Listen to Zigeunerweisen (guitar part as here), track 3

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violguit

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Violin / Recorder & Guitar Duos - This series will be extended soon.

(downloads print as A5 / sheet music with a fee will be sent per email within a week and prints out as A4)

Two Hungarian Gypsy Songs with Variations

Georg Mertens - Variations on "My Fiddle is broken, my Heart is broken"
Theme with 3 Variations ; Var. 3 - Adagio leads into:
Don Giorgio Mainerio (c 1540 - 1580) - Ungaresca
Both pieces together, violin & guitar [grading 6 out of 10] 4p $4.80

Listen to Ungaresca, track 8

Sample: Var. 3 Adagio P1

See the Paganini Duo's "Var 3 Adagio & Ungaresca " live on Youtube

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Georg Mertens - Ideas upon "Slowly flows the River Maros"
Slow original Hungarian Gypsy theme with Django Reinhardt style Variations :
violin & guitar [grading 8 out of 10] 8p $6.80

Listen to "River Maros" track 7

Sample: River Maros P1

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Georg Mertens - Cantilena (for Geoff & Mary Mitchell)
violin & guitar [grading 6 out of 10] 4p $4.80

Sample: Cantilena vln p1

Cantilena guit p1

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Astor Piazzolla - Milonga del Angel arr. for violin & guitar
violin & guitar [grading 7 out of 10] score and parts 7p $5

Sample: Milonga del Angel p3

THREE RENAISSANCE PIECES

William Byrd - Wolseys Wilde for recorder & guitar

William Byrd - La Volta for recorder & guitar

Anonymus - The sick Tune for recorder & guitar
Three Songs together, 5p [grading 6 out of 10], $5.00

Listen to Anon.
"The sick Tune " track 15
W. Byrd "La Volta" track 16
W. Byrd "Wolseys Wilde" track 17
(Jodie Goldney recorder / Georg Mertens guitar

Sample: The sick Tune

reco

Antonio Vivaldi - Largo from "La Stravaganza" XI - violin & guitar
[grading 3-4 out of 10]
Free download

La stravaganza p1

La stravaganza p2

Deep Sorrow / Hungarian Traditional Gypsy song - violin & guitar
[grading 5 out of 10]
Free download

Deep Sorrow p1

Deep Sorrow p2

Listen to Deep Sorrow (guitar part as on this web page), track 1

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Thomas Morley - Almain arr. for recorder/violin & guitar (see also 2 cellos).
Parts 2p [grading 4 out of 10]
Free download

Almain recorder (vln)

Almain guitar

Listen to "Almain" track 14 (recorder & guitar)

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(For physical CD's see section "CD releases" - top left section)

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Listen to "Favourite Cello Student Pieces"
with Georg Mertens cello & Gavin Tipping piano
(Breval, Romberg, Eccles, Vivaldi, Cui, Saint-Saens,
Bach, Marie, Beethoven, Faure, Tschaikovsky)

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PART

String Players: Don't miss on this website:
"An objective Analysis of Bow Technique"
(click here)

Cello Method

by Georg Mertens

From the Beginning to the Completion of Position 4

( Free downloads )

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This Cello Method sets the following standard:.
The progression of pieces and exercises in this methyod has been developed over the last 20 years to ensure every new step is prepared.
The talented student might fly through and still enjoy every piece and finds the exercises useful.
The average talented student will enjoy every step and progress gradually from level to level without suddenly experienceing obstacles.
When a student finds an instrument "hard" or finds it difficult from a certain point onwards, it is usually the result of confronting the student with material he/she is not prepared for. In this method has been done everything possisble to avoid these obstacles.

Pieces in this method are accompanied with a second cello - either student & teacher; since cello teachers can primarily play cello, it seemed inappropriate to write accompaniments for piano.

Georg Mertens has been a cello teacher for 35 years. Already during his studies he got hold of every available teaching method and came to the conclusion, that they are without exception relatively poor; they mainly work for students who would learn with any method (or without). Today many new cello methods are often not even based on the teaching of the cello, but are just made up to limp along with other instruments, like violins or even brass.

He started to develop his own method, which has been continuously changed over 20 years to work well for the talented and the less talented student.
Every piece is a musical unit. Exercises are short and to the point.

Copyright for all parts of this method Georg Mertens (2009).
Free copying welcome. Any use for commercial purpose is prohibited.

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VOLUME 1 (see below for Volume 2):

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No 0 - 50 , FIRST POSITION [Difficulty grading of No 1 - 49: 1 out of 10]

(click on coloured fields to view and print / free copies print as A5)

No 0 - Introduction into terms and notes

No 0

No 1 - Learning to play in rhythm on open strings

No 1

No 2 - Half notes (1/2) / Accompaniment to No 1,2,4

No 2

No 3 - Rain, rain go away [traditional English] (Introducing the left hand / with 2nd cello for students)

No 3

No 4 & 5 - Dotted Minims, 3/4 notes / 5 Long, short, short, long

No 4 & 5

6 - 18 PIECES IN THE KEY OF D MAJOR

No 6 & 7 - Twinkle, twinkle little Star [melody: Traditional Austrian] (No 6 is the open strings accompaniment)

No 6 & 7

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No 8 - Mary has a little Lamb [Traditional English] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 8

No 9 - French Folk Song [Traditional French] (starting V; for 2 cellos)

No 9

No 10 - Tica tica Tuc - tuc; Quavers/ 8th notes [Mertens] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 10

No 11/12 - Frere Jacques / Where is Thumbkin [Traditional French] & All my little Ducklings / Alle meine Entchen [Traditional German] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 11 & 12

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No 13/14 - Scale in D major & Lightly Row / Haenschen klein [Traditional german] (correcting the Suzuki version / with 2nd cello for students)

No 13 & 14

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No 15 - Song of Joy / Ode to peace / Freude schoner Gotterfunke [Beethoven] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 15

No 16 - Baa Baa Black Sheep [Traditinal English] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 16

No 17 - Fox Song / Song of the Wind / Fuchs du hast Gans gestohlen [Traditional German] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 17

No 18 - Bee baa Bootzelman / Der Bi Ba Butzelmann [Traditional German] (for 2 cellos)

No 18

19 - 30 PIECES IN THE KEY OF G MAJOR

No 19 to 21 - 19 The effect of the second finger / 20 The notes in G major / 21 The scale in G major

No 19 - 21

No 22 - Andantino [Carcassi] - Introducing the 2nd finger (for 2 cellos)

No 22

No 23 - Silent Night / Heilige Nacht [Gruber] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 23

No 24 - Duo in G major for 2 cellos [Mertens] (2nd cello for students)

No 24

No 25 - Happy Birthday [Traditional English] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 25

SLURS

No 26 - Slur Exercises

No 26

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No 27 - Quick Tune, 2 notes slurred [Mertens] (with 2nd cello for students see below)

No 27

- No 27a - 2nd cello for students to Quick Tune

No 27acc

No 28 - Rigadoon [Purcell] for Accompaniment see No 41

No 28

No 29 - Nun ruhen alle Waelder [Bach] for 2 cellos

No 29

No 30 - Down in these Woods / Dort niedn in diesem Holze [Traditional German] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 30

31 - 35 PIECES IN THE KEY OF C MAJOR

No 31 - Scale in C major (with 2nd cello for students)

No 31

No 32 - Orientation Study in C [Mertens] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 32

No 33 - Intonation Study [Mertens]

No 33

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No 34 - The Hippopotamus - bass note fun [Mertens] (for 2 cellos)

No 34

No 35 - Nimble Fingers for 2 cellos [Mertens]

No 35

36 - 50 PIECES IN DIFFERENT KEYS

No 36 - Maienzeit / Maytime [Neidhardt] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 36

No 37 - Scarborough Fair [Traditional English] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 37

No 38 - Sakura, Sakura [Traditional Japanese] (for 2 cellos)

No 38

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No 39 - Hartikvoh [Traditional Jewish] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 39

No 40 - The Ashgrove [Traditional English] (with 2nd cello for students see below)

No 40

- No 40a - Accompaniment to "The Ashgrove" for students (hard)

No 40 acc

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No 41 - Rigadoon II [Purcell], Accompaniment to No 28

No 41

No 42 - Study in C major after Fernando Sor (with 2nd cello for students see below)

No 42

- No 42a - Accompaniment to Study in C major for students

No 42 acc

No 43 - Study in G major (4 & 8 notes slurred) after Dotzauer (with 2nd cello for students)

No 43

No 44 - We wish you a Merry Christmas [16th Century Anonymus] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 44

No 45 - Early one Morning [Traditional English] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 45

No 46 - Pavan [ Luis Milan] (for 2 cellos)

No 46

- Accompaniment to "Pavan" (teacher)

No 46 acc

No 47a/ 47 - Staccato & Double Stop Exercise / 47 - Morning Stroll [Gretchaninov] (with 2nd cello for teacher & students see below)

No 47

- No 47c - 2 Accompaniments to "Morning Stroll": Teacher (close to the original) & Student accompaniment

No 47 acc

No 48 - Jingle Bells [Pierpont] (with 2nd cello for students, see below)

No 48

- No 48a - Accompaniment to "Jingle Bells" for students

No 48 acc

No 49 - Hornpipe [Irish Fiddle Tune] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 49

[Difficulty grading of No 50 - 64: 2 out of 10]

No 50 - Exercise for Double Stops / Bagpipe Song [Mertens] (with 2nd cello for students, see below)

No 50

- No 50a - Accompaniment to "Bagpipe Song" for students

No 50 acc

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CELLO METHOD - VOLUME 2:

The Extended Positions and Positions 1/2, & 2,3,4

51 - 55 THE EXTENDED FIRST POSITION (BACK / b )

[Difficulty grading of No 51 - 64: 2 out of 10]

No 51a - Exercise for the Extended Position back (b) & No 51 - Dona, Dona [Traditional Yiddish] (2nd cello see below)

No 51a / 51

No 51b - Exercise 2 for the Extended Position back & 2nd cello accompaniment to "Dona, Dona"

No 51 b / acc

No 52 - Choral: Christus der uns selig macht [Bach] (for 2 cellos)

No 52

No 53 - Spagnoletto [Negri] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 53

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No 54 - Choral: O Haupt voll Blut umwunden [Bach] (for 2 cellos)

No 54

No 55 - Passamezzo [Phalese] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 55

56 - 60 THE EXTENDED FIRST POSITION (UP / # )

No 56a & b - Exercises for the Extended Position (#)

No 56

No 57 - Scale in D major +

No 58 - Study in D after Sebastian Lee (with 2nd cello for students)

No 57/8

No 59 - Minuet in C [Petzold / Bach] (2nd cello for students see No 68)

No 59

No 60 - Bourree in 5 [Mertens] ( 2nd cello for students see below)

No 60

61 - 64 FIRST POSITION WITH MIXED EXTENSIONS

No 60a/ 61 - Accompaniment to "Bourree in 5 / Scale in d melodic minor"

No 60acc /61

No 62 - Gilderoy [Traditional Irish] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 62

No 63 - Danza [Chilesotti] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 63

No 64 - Greensleeves [after Cutting] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 64

65 - 68 THE HALF POSITION

[Difficulty grading of No 65 - 85: 3 out of 10]

No 65 - Exercise for Half Position

No 66 - La Folia [Spanish Anonymus] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 65 / 66

No 67 - Tis the last Rose of Summer [Morley] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 67

No 68 - Accompaniment to Minuet in C [Petzold/Bach, No 59]

No 68

69 - 80 THE SECOND POSITION

No 69 - Exercises for Second Position (not extended)

No 69

No 70 - Aria [Lully]

No 70

No 71 - Dominion [Irish Traditional] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 71

No 72 - Hungarian Dance [Book of Sopron] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 72

No 73 - 73a Ornaments, trill & mordents / 73b Trill Exercise

No 73

No 74 - Bianco Fiore [Negri] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 74

No 75 - Exercise for the EXTENDED 2nd POSITION & No 76a - Accompaniment to Minuet 2 in C for students [Petzold/Bach]

No 75/76acc

No 76 - Minuet 2 in C [Petzold?/Bach] (with 2nd cello for students see above)

No 76

No 77 - Old Reel [Traditional Irish] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 77

No 78 - The Sandman [Zuccalmaglio] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 78

No 79 - Star of County Down [Traditional Irish] (with 2nd cello for students see below)

No 79

No 79a/b - Accompaniment to "Star of County Down / Preperatory Exercise to "Irish Washerwoman"

No 79acc/b

No 80 - Irish Washerwoman [Traditional Irish] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 80

81 - 88 THE THIRD POSITION

No 81 - Exercises for the high Third Position

No 81

No 82 - Alman [anonymus 16th century] (with 2nd cello for students)

No 82

No 83 - Dorogoi Dlinnoyu (Those were the days my friend) [Boris Fomin]
This instrumental tune became known as the song "Those were the Days" with Mary Hopkin 1968

No 83

- Accompaniment (2nd cello) to Dorogoi Dlinoyu (Those were the days) [G.M.)

No 83 acc

No 84 - Swedish Tune [Bernhard Romberg]

No 84

- No 84a - Accompaniment (2nd cello for students) to Swedish Tune [G.M.]

No 84 acc

No 85 - Minuet in d minor [Bach/Petzold]

No 85

- No 85a - Accompaniment (2nd cello for students) to Minuet in d minor

No 85 acc

[Difficulty grading of No 86 - 100: 4 out of 10]

No 86 - Study for the Extended 3rd Position [Mertens]

No 86

- No 86a - Accompaniment for students to "Study for the Extended 3rd Position"

No 86 a

No 87 - Hook Stroke Studies

No 87

No 88 - Theme from "Nutcracker Suite" [Tchaikovsky] (March of the Toy Soldiers)

No 88

- No 88a - Accompaniment for students to "Theme from Nutcracker Suite"

No 88 acc

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89 - 100 THE FOURTH POSITION

No 89 / 90 - Scale in G major / Exercises for 4th Position

No 89/90

No 91 - Study in G major for position 1-4

No 91

- No 91a - Accompaniment to Study in G major (2nd cello for students)

No 91 acc

No 92 - Jesu meine Freude, Choral for 2 cellos [J.S.Bach]

No 92

No 93 - Study with Harmonics: Cantilena - Andante [A.Kummer]

No 93

- No 93a - Accompaniment to Cantilena - Andante

No 93 acc

No 94 - Systematic Exercise for Position 1 - 4 [G.M.]

No 94

No 94a - Accompaniment for Systematic Exercise for Position 1 - 4 / last part of No 94

No 94 acc

No 95 - Theme from "For Elise" [L.v.Beethoven] with Accompaniment

No 95

No 96 - Spiccato Exercise & Accompaniment to "A Hundred Kisses"

No 96 / 97acc

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No 97 - A Hundred Kisses [Traditional Hungarian Gypsy]

No 97

No 98 - Autumn Leaves (La Feuilles de Mortes) [J.Kosma]

No 98

- No 98a - Accompaniment to "Autumn Leaves"

No 98 acc

No 99 - Introduction into the Tenor Clef / The 12/8 bar/measure

No 99

No 100 - Giga [D.Dalla Bella]

No 100 p1

Listen to Dalla Bella Giga, track 4

See Georg with Dalla Bella "Giga" live on Youtube

No 100 p2

- No 100a - Accompaniment to "Giga"

No 100 acc

Major Scale Patterns

Students are usually taught to learn scales one after another, independently, without using any understanding. If they haven't played a scale for a while, they have forgotten it.
But all scales have the same pattern of notes, and of course the finergings will be the same, when they start with the same finger.

Find here the patterns of the fingerings for the major scales. In 1 - 2 weeks students will remember all scales for all times!

Major Scales

Fingering Sheet for all major scales (3 octaves)

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