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Folk Strings for Solo Instruments: Solo Violin

$6.95 USD

Folk Strings for Solo Instruments: Solo Violin

Name: Folk Strings for Solo Instruments: Solo Violin
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-15570X
Price: 6.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. and ed. Joanne Martin

Item: 00-15570X

$6.95

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Folk Strings is a collection of folk melodies from around the world arranged for strings. Unlike classical music, which normally has an "authentic" version, folk music often exists in many versions, with differences in the melody or lyrics. Sometimes several countries lay claim to a melody because a group of people moved to a new country and took their music with them. Most folk songs were sung and played for many years before they were written down, and their original composer is usually unknown. This collection includes melodies in a variety of moods and with rhythmic patterns which are representative of their country of origin. The arrangements in Folk Strings can be effective with players at a variety of levels. In order to provide maximum flexibility, the collection is available in a number of instrumentations.

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Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 20

ISBN10: 1-58951-155-7

ISBN13: 978-1-58951-155-2

UPC: 654979036197

SKU: 00-15570X

Instrumentation: Solo Violin

More about this title

About the Arranger: Joanne Martin

Joanne Martin is a versatile musician whose career spans performance, teaching, and composition across North America and Europe. A violist and multi-instrumentalist who has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, she has also built a distinguished career as a Suzuki Teacher Trainer recognized by both the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the European Suzuki Association. In 2007, she received the American Suzuki Institute Suzuki Chair Award for her contributions to Talent Education.

As a composer and arranger, Martin is best known for the I Can Read Music series, which has become the standard beginning note-reading resource for Suzuki students worldwide. Her other publications, including Festive Strings, ViolaFest, Trio Tapestry, and Playing with Style, are characterized by flexible scoring that accommodates mixed ability levels and varied instrumentation. She continues to work as a guest clinician at Suzuki workshops internationally.

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Why we love this

Martin's arrangement honors the melodic character of each folk tune while respecting the constraints of solo violin technique. The collection avoids the trap of oversimplifying folk material; instead, rhythmic and textural details specific to each melody's origin give students something genuine to perform, not generic "folk arrangements." This is repertoire with personality.

What to expect

These melodies carry the warmth of music that has traveled across generations and continents. You'll find moments of dance-like energy alongside passages of quiet reflection, each melody shaped by the traditions and landscapes it represents.

Who it's for

This collection serves violinists at multiple levels who want to explore repertoire beyond classical etudes and standard pedagogical pieces. It is especially valuable for Suzuki students and studio teachers seeking to build cultural awareness and interpretive flexibility alongside technical development.

How to get the most out of it

Listen to recordings of traditional performances from each melody's country of origin. The rhythmic feel and ornamentation vary significantly across cultures, and hearing authentic versions will deepen your interpretation.
Pay attention to the rhythmic patterns that represent each melody's cultural context. These are not decorative details but essential to authentic phrasing.
Let the violin's natural resonance support longer phrases rather than articulating every note. Many folk melodies were originally sung, and a legato approach often honors that vocal quality.

How to use it

Select individual arrangements to open a recital with cultural variety, or program a set of 3-4 pieces from different regions as a thematic unit. These arrangements also work well in community performances or educational concerts where you want to engage audiences unfamiliar with classical violin repertoire.

Skills your students will build

interpreting stylistic and rhythmic characteristics from different cultures
maintaining phrasing integrity in arrangements that prioritize melody over technical display
connecting folk melodies to their cultural origins and performance traditions
flexible bowing choices that serve melodic shape rather than position work