This is a great book - aimed at young learners - full of contrasting performance pieces. Hatikva is a popular Israeli tune with some pleasing imitation, and all within the first two positions.
El Pardal is Catalan, and though the bass line is in first position, line two is in seventh - fingered but with no position. The top part is in tenth position but is very playable.
Onto Sardinia next, with a hurdy-gurdy-like accompaniment to a more challenging arrangement in 2/4 time. It mixes minims (half notes) and semiquavers (sixteenth notes) - quite a handful for a learner to cope with. A mixed ability trio might enjoy this, all the same, as the bass line is more modest in its demands.
The book closes with my personal favourite, the Sad Bossa, with each part have little accented motifs to bring to the fore.
Fingering is thoughtfully applied and «borrowed« fingers are notated to help the continuity. Dynamics are similarly provided. Not all the pieces are the same standard, but there's something here for players from Grade 1 to Grade 3 to have a lot of fun with.
Derek Hasted (Classical Guitar)
