VIOLA BOOKS AND RECORDINGS
by Deborah Greenblatt


The Viola Player’s Book of Rounds Book: $ 10.00
“All the rounds are playable by grade one players, so this is an excellent book for teachers. The rounds are excellent for warm-ups for violists of all levels. The wide variety of rounds inj this book makes it hard to stop playing oce started. Technically, all are in the first position, with only one round requiring an ’F’ above the stave to be played and all are written in alto clef. All the keys used are basic and well suited to the viola sonority. Highly recommended.”
- Michael Vidulich, President,
The Australiahn and New Zealand Viola Society

This volume is part of an effort to encourage beginning students to play nicely with others. It has forty tunes in thirteen keys from twelve countries. The lyrics for twenty-seven tunes are included, with handy indexes to organize it all.

Volumes with these same tunes are available for Fiddle, Cello, Soprano Recorder, Alto Recorder, Tenor Recorder, and Bass Recorder.
Easy to intermediate.

“Hine Ma Tov”, “Make New Friends”, “Quarrel For a Penny”, “White Coral Bells”, “Ki V’Simha”, “Ma Tovu”, “Sing Together”, “Listen to the Echo”, “Viva La Musica, Praetorius”, “Shalom Chaverim”, “Kum Bachur Atzel”, “Congo Boat Song”, “Hey, Ho, Nobody Home”, “The Ferry”, “The Singing School”, “Let Simon’s Beard Alone”, “Come, Follow, Follow”, “Grasshoppers Three”, “Tsena Tsena”, “Chairs to Mend”, “Dona Nobis Pacem”, “Donkeys and Carrots”, “Frere Jacques”, “Roses From Fyn”, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, “Sweep the Floor”, “Merrily, Merrily”, “Music Alone Shall Live”, “The Hired Man’s Faith in Children”, “Echo”, “David, David”, “Give to Me Your Hand”, “Kookaburra”, “We Are Warming Up Our Voices”, “Happy Days”, “Sumer Is A-Coming In”, “Noah, Here They Come”, “Noah, There They Go”, “Bells”, “On My Roof”

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Danish Fiddle Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
“...lively Danish tunes arranged for two violas in a melody and harmony format, with the two parts evenly matched for difficulty and interest. Parts are well laid out in score form, and are easy to read. The pieces are all playable in first position and include keys of C, G, D, A, F, and Bb major, and D minor. Some are diatonic, and others have a sprinkling of accidentals, including the dreaded “high 3” and “low 1.” The melodic content of these tunes provides ample practice for arpeggios and string crossings in a fun setting. The two parts are predominantly homorhythmic, with no tricky patterns--only a few straightforward syncopations--so ensemble should not present any real difficulties. The biggest challenge (and benefit) would be encouraging fingers and bow arms to work quickly and nimbly.”
- Robin Kearton,
American String Teacher,
August 2006

“This collection of over 30 traditional Danish fiddle tunes is a must for fiddling enthusiasts. Most string players are familiar with the rich Irish, Scottish and American fiddling styles, but many may not be aware of the fiddling traditions from Scandinavia. Both Sweden and Denmark are noted for their extensive traditional fiddle duets. This collection of mainly lively polkas, waltzes and other dances has been well scored for two violas (and written in easy keys). The score album also includes chord indications if one wishes to add a guitar or other chordal instrument. The 1st viola has the melody and the pieces can be played as viola solos if a 2nd viola is not available. The 2nd viola part in all the pieces, is a true harmny part and is as interesting to play as the 1st part. The viola edition is scored in the same keys as the other editions (for 2 violins, 2 cellos, 2 basses or 2 mandolins), allowing for mixed duet playing. All the pieces can be played by grade two players. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.”
- Dr. Michael Vidulich, President,
The Australian and New Zealand Viola Society Journal, February, 2004

Enjoy these 31 traditional Danish tunes arranged for two players, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Danish Fiddle Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can have fun jamming with your musical friends. Program notes and a source list are included.

“Alborg Polka”, “Bedstemors Piger”, “Enkemands Dans”, “Festvalsen”, “Forkert Polka”, “Forkert Vals”, “Hopsa”, “Hornpfeifen”, “Ikke Hurtig”, “Jens Lyngses Polka”, “Jysk Fynsk”, “Lars Peter pa Rimmi”, “Moens Hopsa”, “Molbrok”, “Op Med Fokken”, “Petersen & Enkelt Kaede”, “Pindsvine Reinlander”, “Polska From Fyn”, “Rheinlaender”, “Simon Kils Vals”, “Skomagerdansen”, “Smedens Anders Skottish”, “Spraetmazurka”, “Store Smeds Vals, Den”, “Strejkende General, Den”, “Thorvald Hansens Vals”, “To Ting”, “Traedballehus Polka”, “Tripmazurka”, “Vals”, “Vals From Agerkrog”
Gardening Fiddling Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
These 26 traditional Gardening tunes are arranged for two instruments, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Gardening Fiddling Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can all play together. You may discover that a steady diet of jigs, reels, and waltzes are an essential part of a healthy growing environment for you and your plants.

“Apple Blossom”, “Blackberry Blossom”, “Blackberry Quadrille”, “The Blooming Meadows”, “Bunch of Flowers”, “Bunch of Roses”, “The Bunch of Roses”, “The Bush On the Hill”, “Cauliflower Cotillion”, “Five Leaved Clover”, “The Flax In Bloom”, “Flowers of Cahirciveen”, “Flowers of Edinburgh”, “Flowers of Limerick”, “Flowers of Michigan”, “Flowers of St Petersburg”, “The Garden of Daisies”, “The Gardener’s March”, “The Gooseberry Bush”, “Green Grow the Rushes”, “The Holly Bush”, “Passion Flower”, “The Poppy Leaf”, “The Poppy”, “The Rose Garden”, “Rose Tree”, “Rosebud Reel”, “Short Grass”, “Sweet Bunch of Daisies”, “Swinging On a Gate”, “Tater Patch”, “Where Lilies Bloom”, “Wild Rose of the Mountain”
Irish Fiddle Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
“...excellent...most welcome addition to the viola repertoire...The melody line is in the 1st viola part for all the pieces, so the tunes could be played as viola solos (with or without the 2nd viola &/or chordal instrument). The 2nd viola part is...given interesting harmony lines often in 3rds or 6ths with the 1st viola...when accompaniment patterns are given, they rarely last long and are interesting in themselves. From a technical point of view, all the pieces are in the 1st position for both viola parts, except the 1st viola part in ’Smash the Windows’. The parts are about grade 2 or 3...The ’Londonderry Air’ (’Danny Boy’) duet arrangement is one of the most beautiful I have heard, thank you Deborah Greenblatt...Highly recommended.”
- Michael Vidulich, President,
The Australian and New Zealand Viola Society, April, 2005

Enjoy these 32 traditional Irish tunes arranged for two instruments, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Irish Fiddle Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can have fun jamming with your musical friends. There’s a great source list included, just in case you haven’t had enough Irish tunes.

“Banish Misfortune”, “Beauty in Tears”, “Crabs in the Skillet”, “Dark Haired Lass”, “Dennis Murphy’s Polka”, “Down Went McGinty to the Bottom of the Sea”, “Drowsy Maggie”, “Fisher’s Hornpipe”, “Five Leaved Clover”, “Haste to the Wedding”, “Irish Washerwoman”, “Jack Mitchel’s Polka”, “John Ryan’s Polka”, “Larry O’Gaff”, “Leather Away the Wattle O!”, “Little Burnt Potato”, “Londonderry Air”, “The Miller”, “My Wife Is a Wee Wanton Thing”, “Off She Goes”, “Paddy Whack”, “Red Haired Boy”, “Repeal of the Union”, “Rights of Man”, “Rose Tree”, “Saint Anne’s Reel”, “Si Bheag Si Mhor”, “Smash the Windows”, “Sporting Molly”, “Tater Patch”, “Temperance Reel”, “Whiskey Before Breakfast”
Klezmer Fiddle Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
These 33 traditional Klezmer tunes are arranged for two instruments, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Klezmer Fiddle Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can all play together. The handy program notes will help you decide whether each tune is good for dancing, or for particular events in a Jewish wedding, etc. A source list is also included, to encourage further research.

“Achshav”, “Bim Bom”, “Bulbes”, “Dayenu”, “Dee Mizinkeh”, “Der Gasn Nigun (The Street Tune)”, “Dire Gelt”, “Dodi Li”, “Finjan”, “Haida Haida”, “Harmonika”, “Hava Nagila”, “Hine Ma Tov”, “Hop Mayne Homentashn”, “Hora Shalom”, “I Had a Little Overcoat”, “In Odessa”, “Kol Dodi”, “Mayim”, “Mazel Tov”, “Miserlou”, “Modzitz”, “Mustafa”, “My Old Sieve”, “Nigun Atik”, “Od Yeshoma”, “Patsh Tantz”, “Rad Halaila”, “Rebbe’s Waltz”, “Siman Tov”, “Tantst, Tantst Yidelekh”, “Yesh Lanu Tayish”
Renaissance Fiddling Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
These 28 traditional Renaissance tunes are arranged for two players, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Renaissance Fiddling Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can have fun jamming with your musical friends. Program notes and a source list are included.

“Anna”, “Branles de Village”, “Bransles de Champaigne”, “Courante”, “Dit le Bourgignon”, “Edi Beo Thu”, “Estampie Anglais”, “Gabriel From Heaven Came”, “Galliard”, “He! Robechon”, “Horse’s Bransle”, “J’ai Encore un tel Paste”, “The Jester”, “Lekhah Dodi”, “Margaretha”, “Newcastle”, “Nota”, “Officcial Bransle”, “Parson’s Farewell”, “Rufty Tufty”, “Saltarello”, “Saltarello la Regina”, “Sophia”, “Tanzen und Springen”, “Tourdion Quand Je Bois”, “Trairi Deluriau”, “Trotto”, “Venes Apres Moi”
Russian Fiddle Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
“Once again Ms Greenblat has produced another welcome addition for 2 violas. Many of us have and are enjoying her excellent folk song collections for 2 violas, which include:Ê The Viola Player’s Book of Rounds (2 or more violas) (Renaissance, European folk, Jewish, American, Australian, etc);Ê Danish Fiddle Tunes; Irish Fiddle Tunes;Ê & The Viola Fiddling Tune Book & CD.Ê In keeping with most of Ms Greenblatt’s ‘folk’ duet arrangements, the Russian Fiddle Tunes areÊ published separately for 2 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Cellos, 2 Basses & 2 Mandolins with all the same pieces in the same keys for all the parts. This offers players of different instruments to play together.
The collection of 31 folk tunes include not only traditional folk tunes from tsarist Russia, but includes a few from the 20th century. Well known tunes such as Kalinka, Minka, Moscow Nights (Padmaskovnije Vyechera), The Red Sarafan (Krasny Sarafan) and Song of the Volga Boatman are all included.
Similar to the other fiddle tune books for 2 violas, this collection is in score form and includes chordal indications for guitar or another chordal instrument ad lib. The melody stays in the 1st viola part, so can be played as a solo with optional chordal instrument (&/or 2nd viola). In this collection the viola parts have identical rhythm throughout, both parts are entirely in 1st position (with the exception of viola I in The Cornflower, & viola II in Vo Sadu Ly, V Ohorode requiring 2nd or 3rd position to reach the ‘F’s’). All the pieces are of grade 2 level. The addition of notes for each of the pieces is a wonderful addition. RECOMMENDED”

- Dr. Michael L. Vidulich
Australian & New Zealand Viola Society Journal, April, 2005

“...another excellent publication by Deborah Greenblatt, ... limitless mixed duet playing and “jammming” possibilities. Familiar tunes such as the Lonely Birch (Tchaikovsky used it in his Fourth Symphony) and Song of the Volga Boatmen are included in this compilation. Even though the melody is consistently in the first part, both parts are equal in difficulty and interest, with identical rhythms and bowings. Key signatures generally don’t venture beyond three flats or sharps, both major and minor. With a couple of exceptions, the arrangements use the full first-potition sonorous range of the viola; however, the occasional use of half, second and third positions would ease some awkward string crossings. The harmonies, predominantly in thirds and sixths, lend to the enjoyable folk-fiddling nature of these tunes. The printing and layout of this publication are excellent--easy to read and well thought out, with no page turns. The tunes are arranged alphabetically with witty and concise program notes at the back--a wonderful insight into Russian humour. While each selection has a suggested metronomic tempo making, dynamics are left entirely to the discretion and imaginations of the players. Publications such as this offer limitless potential to teachers, students (levels 3 and 4 and higher), amateurs and professionals. Deborah Greenblatt continues to publish outstanding materials that will provide hours of enjoyment for violists looking for something different, interesting and fun.”
- Susan Lipchak
Canadian Viola Society Newsletter, Spring, 2005

These 31 traditional Russian tunes are arranged for two instruments, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Russian Fiddle Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can all play together. Program notes and a source list are included.

“Barinya”, “Bunnies All Furry”, “The Concertina (Talyanochka)”, “The Cornflower”, “Cuckoo”, “Curly Forelock (Chupchik)”, “Down the Kasanka”, “Fire, Fire (Gari, Gari)”, “Freedom”, “From the Volga to the Don (At Volgi Da Dona)”, “Goodbye My Village (Proschai)”, “I Never Meant to Love (Polso bylo Lyulatse)”, “Kalinka”, “Kamaryns’ka”, “Kanava-Barinya”, “Katiusha”, “Korobochka”, “The Lonely Birch”, “Meadowland”, “Minka”, “Moscow Nights (Padmaskovniye Vyechera)”, “My Beloved (Suliko)”, “The Packman”, “The Red Sarafan (Krasny Sarafan)”, “The Returned Exile”, “Sadden Me Not, My Love”, “Sleigh Song”, “Song of the Volga Boatmen”, “Stenka Rasin”, “Vo Sadu Ly, V Ohorode”, “Warm Boots”
Singing Fiddling Tunes for Two Violas Book: $ 15.00
These 34 traditional and original tunes are arranged for two instruments, with chords for back-up musicians included. The tunes in each book of the Singing Fiddling Tunes for Two series are in the same keys so you can all play together.

“Alice Johnson’s Jig”, “A Banjo Player Closed My Door”, “Boil Them Cabbage”, “Cactus Pete”, “Call Me”, “Cindy”, “Follow the Lead Sheet”, “The Fox”, “Gig On Time”, “Goin’ Down to Cairo”, “Have Mercy”, “How Many Biscuits”, “I Can Learn to Play This Song”, “Ida Red”, “It Ain’t Gonna Rain”, “It Starts With Your Feet”, “Liza Jane”, “Love Somebody”, “Mary Ann the Fiddler”, “Oh, I Love to Play My Fiddle”, “Oh, My Fiddle”, “Old Bald Eagle”, “Old Dan Tucker”, “Overalls”, “Play Harmony”, “Practice, Practice, Practice”, “Railroad Whistles”, “Sail Away Ladies”, “Sally Goodin’”, “Shortnin’ Bread”, “Sourwood Mountain”, “Train On the Island”, “Tumbalalaika”, “Waltzing’s As Easy As 1, 2, 3”
The Viola Fiddling Tune Book and CD Book: $ 15.00
CD: $ 10.00
“These fiddle tunes for viola are pedagogically excellent in every way...
The performance notes could well serve as a style manual for playing fiddle music...
...the overall enthusiasm for the viola is infectious.
The music editing is very clean...
This present volume displays a wonderful sense of humor and inventiveness
as well as dedication to our musical heritage.”

- Karen Clark,
The American MusicTeacher, October/November 1999

“...wonderful...the second viola part is a true harmony part
in keeping with the duet fiddling styles of the pieces.
Both viola parts are equal in difficulty--about grade three or four
...excellent keys for the viola, which are easy to play in,
sound well on the viola and take in the full range of the instrument.
I highly recommend this book for all viola students, who, as violists,
rarely get the chance to play music outside the ’classical’ repertoire
...adult amateurs and professional violists looking for a little ’fun’
should buy a copy of this excellent publication.”

- Dr. Michael Vidulich, President,
The Australian and New Zealand Viola Society

“...delightful...occasional double-stopping and syncopated rhythms---they are tunes which would appeal to intermediate level and up...The second viola parts are well written and interesting as well, though students might like to switch parts when repeating sections.”
- The Canadian Viola Society Newsletter,
Autumn 2001

“...excellent CD...All the pieces are played with ’spirit’ and in a clean classical folk style. I highly recommend the music for all violists and viola studeents and recommend the CD. I find playing the CD to my students enhances their enjoyment of the tunes.”
- Dr. Michael Vidulich, President,
The Australian and New Zealand Viola Society

“This new viola CD is perhaps even more helpful than the recordings that accompany other music books because certain rhythms in these tunes are “bent” in performance when compared to the way they are written. Also worth mentioning, the CD is produced so that the two stereo channels each carry a separate part. The student can then perform either part with the CD adjusted to play the other part simultaneously. These books and CDs are certainly worth a trial as they could prove to be a nice companion to the study of the more traditional literature for strings.”
- Martin E, LeBeau
American String Teacher

“...solid and reliable versions of tunes...Advanced beginners would find something here at a slow tempo, but the arrangements speak best to intermediate players and beyond. The quality is consistently high in every detail, and I recommend it.”
- Hollis Taylor
Fiddler Magzine

This collection includes 27 hoedowns, polkas, jigs, waltzes, and rags arranged for viola, with an optional viola harmony part, and chords for back-up players included. These are the same tunes and in the same keys as in The Cello Fiddling Tune Book, and The Piano Fiddling Tune Book to allow violists and cellists and pianists to play together. If you need some help, there are helpful hints in the back of the book, as well as a source list.

The CD features all 27 tunes with one viola part coming out of your left stereo speaker and the other viola part coming out of the right speaker. Guitar comes out both speakers. By adjusting your stereo’s balance control you can isolate either viola part so you can play along with it .

“Arkansas Traveller”, “Avoca Polka”, “Banish Misfortune”, “Barefoot Fiddler”, “Boda Valsen”, “Clarinet Polka”, “Crossing Great Glen”, “Dallas Bound”, “Dark Island”, “Day Dawn”, “Down Home Rag”, “Duj, Duj”, “Fiddler’s Waltz”, “Hunt the Squirrel”, “I Don’t Want No Babies In My Bed”, “Jenny Lind Polka”, “Karapiet”, “The Miller”, “On the Road to Boston”, “Pig Ankle Rag”, “Ragtime Annie”, “Rights of Man”, “Rose Tree”, “Smash the Windows”, “Tater Patch”, “Up Jumped the Devil”, “Whiskey Before Breakfast”
These are the same tunes that are in the Cello Fiddling Tune Book.
Book: 
CD: 

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