Last year, Schottverlag published a booklet for violin and piano by Bertold Hummel (1925-2002) with short, easy-to-play serenades. Under the title "... and a tango", the publishers summarised two little birthday serenades for his wife Inken (Albumblatt, Arietta) and a musical welcome to his granddaughter Johanna Marie (Ständchen) " ... und ein(en) Tango" - also for his wife on her birthday - as late gems from Hummel's oeuvre.

As an andantino in 6/8 time, the "Albumblatt" offers a slightly moving, pleasant melody which offers some dynamic scope. The somewhat larger intervals between the notes create a "modern character" without, however, risking truly modern and atonal attempts at sound, as can be found in Hanno Haag's pieces from "Rummelplatz", for example.
The second serenade "Arietta" offers a playground for fingering changes with many low first and fourth fingers. Due to the not quite catchy rhythm, problems are likely to arise when sight-reading if the Bb and A flat are still too new for the pupil. It is also difficult to make the violin part comprehensible to the young violinist without an accompanying piano. Nevertheless, the "Arietta" offers interested young musicians the feeling of immersing themselves in "modern music", and not only through the use of a mute. Both elements, the mute and the unconventional, minimalist piano accompaniment, lend the piece an intimate, spherical character which, after a few hurdles, can also be grasped by young pupils.
The following "Ständchen", on the other hand, is very quick and uncomplicated. The melody is quickly heard and, according to the composer, should also be performed with a mute.
The new Hummel booklet ends with a tango, which is somewhat more difficult and includes several passages in the third position. In keeping with dance music, the composer uses head signs here. The pupil can easily find the harmonic transitions and can already play a typical tango rhythm if he pays attention to the various dynamic and technical markings. The rest is up to the teacher's skill.

These four little album pieces by Bertold Hummel, who died in 2002, are not intended for the large concert hall, but rather (as the dedications already reveal) find their meaning in a private setting. In violin lessons, they can certainly expand the repertoire for our little ones and offer a first insight into the compositional culture of the 20th century. Especially in the lower age groups, the last movement "Tango" offers a modern alternative in the programmes of "Jugend musiziert" or "Prima la musica", which will soon be relevant again for string players.
Mirko Albrecht (www.lehrsaiten.de)

Four easy pieces for violin and piano "...and a tango" from Bertold Hummel's estate are also being published for the first time. These are small personal birthday presents of a musical nature, written in the last years of his life for performance at family celebrations. Three of the miniatures - Albumblatt, Arietta and Tango - are dedicated to Inken Hummel, the composer's wife and herself a violinist, while Grandfather Hummel composed the tender serenade in 2001 for the birth of his granddaughter Johanna Maria.
I am always amazed by the composer's many facets, the variety and diversity of his musical output.(...) Despite the pragmatic approach and great stylistic variability outlined here, Hummel always had an unmistakable personal tonal language. As simple and tonal as these four little pieces may be, they are unmistakably genuine Hummel from the very first note. Their melodic and rhythmic clarity make them ideal for children, and they can also be played (sight-read) by amateurs without any problems. In addition, they exude a very special charm, expressing the composer's affection for his wife and granddaughter in tones of gentle poetry. This sheet music edition, also with a facsimile print of the manuscript page of the serenade, is also perfectly designed.
Herwig Zack