Succeeding with the Masters Festival Collection, Sonatinas

Book 1
This book contains six sonatinas-some are well known, others are discovered gems, and two are by women composers. Every piece is in the original, complete form. Some titles/composers are: Little Sonata by Charles Wilton; Sonatina by Ferdinand Beyer; Blue Ridge Sonatina by Mary Leaf; and Sonatina: A Tale of Four Cats by Judith Strickland. This 32-page book includes thematics, discussion on sonatina form, listening activities, a dictionary, and notes about the pieces and composers-a great launch to this important musical form.

Book 2
The ten sonatinas in Book 2 include pieces by Benjamin Carr, Peggy O’Dell, Félix le Couppey, and others. Discussion on sonata-allegro form is more in depth than Book 1 - describing parts within each movement, and how movements complement each other and form a complete musical picture. This book includes thematics, listening activities, a fill-in-the-blank "Test Your Knowledge" review of terms and symbols, and a dictionary. The "About the Pieces and Composers" provides background info for your program notes.

Book 3
Features more in-depth information about sonatinas (sonata-allegro form) and the classical era. Some titles not easily found in other collections, such as Sonatina in G Major by Le Couppey, and the complete Latour Sonatina in C Major, appear in this beautifully engraved volume. Each sonatina is in its original, complete form. Sonatinas by Fritz Spindler, Johann Baptist Vanhal, Samuel Wesley, Vincenzo Righini and others are included in this book. Each volume contains a thematic index, a music dictionary, and information “About the Pieces and Composers” that can be used in program notes.

Book 4
Spotlights nine sonatinas from both the Classical and Romantic periods with works by Beethoven, Benda, Dussek, Reinecke, Biehl, Lynes, Köhler, Kuhlau, and Lichner. Every sonatina is in its original, complete form in this 84-page book. Each volume contains interesting historical information, a thematic index, a music dictionary, and information “About the Pieces and Composers” that can be used in program notes.