Joseph Phibbs' Trio Semplice for Piano Trio.Trio Semplice was written for and is dedicated to the Schubert Ensemble as part of their innovative Chamber Music 2000 series. My principal aim in writing this piece was to explore - on a modest scale - the whole concept of musical simplicity: short clearly presented ideas often involving repetition rhythmic regularity and a high degree of textural transparency scored for a small conventional chamber group. This type of simplicity is more technical than psychological however; although the work will hopefully still provide a number of challenges in performance for each of the three players. The work hasthree short movements: a slow opening movement featuring a gently rising dialogue between the violin and piano; a flowing central movement with a flexible tempo marking contrasting a persistent figure in the violin with rapid figuration in the piano finally giving way to a slower cello passage; and a rapid almost mechanical final movement with both cello and violin playing pizzicato. - Joseph Phibbs

Private studio teachers school string programs and Suzuki teachers preparing for recitals will welcome these tasteful piano accompaniments for the violin viola and cello editions of Volume 1of Brian Wicklund’s American FiddleMethod. Acknowledged as the most widely used fiddle method in the country Wicklund became aware of the increasing demand for a parallel piano accompaniment series and engaged his friend Bob Walser to take on the task of writingit. Collaborating closely with Wicklund Walser was encouraged to adhere to the chord progressions suggested in the original books but given leeway to add interesting variations in rhythm and harmony. The result is a book ofarrangements that welcomes pianists to the jamming circle. Piano playing teachers parents and siblings can now join in the fun and fiddle tunes can be featured in concerts and recitals with the support of an accompanist. Inaddition principals of accompaniment learned by playing these arrangements can be applied to accompanying other tunes the voice or other instruments. The American Fiddle Method itself provides the beginner with the elementsneeded to become a proficient fiddler. Based on many years of teaching experience the author introduces concepts and techniques that yield solid results. This method encourages creativity in the student by including variations ofthe tunes to illustrate how they can serve as a basis for improvisation.

David Matthews's Y Deryn Du (The Blackbird) for Piano Quartet.The Blackbird for piano quartet was written in 1998 and is based on the Welsh folksong Y Deryn Du. In the song the blackbird gives advice to a young man in search of a wife. After rejecting the first three of the bird's suggestions he willingly accepts the fourth the bailiff's daughter. So in this instrumental setting the tune appears appropriately four times: on the viola then the cello then the violin and piano in canon. - David MatthewsCommission made possible by Mrs Elizabeth Salmon.