Josephine Trott - Melodious Double-Stops

Viola arrangement

Composed by Josephine Trott (1874-1950). MELODIOUS DOUBLE-STOPS were originally written for violin in two parts, published in 1925 and 1931. In this version presented for viola, it is adapted from the first New York print edition: G. Schirmer. Trott has left a legacy of books and methods for teaching the violin. The earliest of these publications dates from 1908, when he would have been 34 years old, it is Studies in Shifting, by "J. Trott", and...
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Viola arrangement

Composed by Josephine Trott (1874-1950). MELODIOUS DOUBLE-STOPS were originally written for violin in two parts, published in 1925 and 1931. In this version presented for viola, it is adapted from the first New York print edition: G. Schirmer.
Trott has left a legacy of books and methods for teaching the violin. The earliest of these publications dates from 1908, when he would have been 34 years old, it is Studies in Shifting, by "J. Trott", and was published by the Chicago publisher: Clayton F. Summy Co. In the preface to these studies Trott says that "Several of these ideas have been suggestions of prominent European teachers and have proved of great practical value in developing finger strength and accuracy of intonation." The material follows the line seen later in the Yost and Dounis exercises, with multiple combinations of fingerings and positions, this clearly indicates that Josephine was an early forerunner in theorizing these types of repetitive exercises for position changes that are indispensable to the technical development of the violinist. Her next publication is a book written with Ruth Ewing entitled The Book of the Beastie. Beginning in 1912, the book is a collection of stories, poems and photographs intended to educate children and adolescents in the humane treatment of animals. Then in 1917, Melodious Foundation Studies and 28 Melodious Studies in the First Position were published by Schirmer Publishers. The word "melodious" may have been used by Trott to point out the difference between repetition-based technical studies similar to scales. The book of basic studies is more of a beginner's method, with some duets towards the end. The 28 melodious etudes are all in duet format.
Trott lived in Denver during the 1920s, where he maintained a studio on Humboldt Street. During this time, Trott helped establish in 1922 the Civic Symphony (now the Denver Symphony), and it was three years later that he composed the magnanimous Melodious Double Stops which is divided into two books, in this version we expose book 1 which explores various technical possibilities in first position to pinpoint interval tuning along with different bow articulations, simultaneity in volume of sound in the execution of double stops and as for the left hand these studies are written in an intuitive way that avoids lifting the fingers when it is not necessary, and thus, to maintain the preparation of the fingers on the string. Even today it is still widely used as an option for the study of double strings in various music conservatories worldwide for violin and viola, the etudes are written in a progressive manner that makes it essential for technical improvement of the execution of the viola. The first part has 30 etudes and the second part has 28 etudes.
We have preserved the bowings and fingerings of the composer, suggesting in gray color some suggestions on the musical text without altering the Trott's philosophy. We have placed an improved distribution of measures in some cases to give more comfort in the reading.