The Dounis Collection

Dounis was one of the most prominent violin pedagogues of the twentieth century. He was revered for his intense concern for the proper ergonomics of violin playing as well as the emphasis on the role of the brain, not just the fingers in appropriate violin practicing and playing. The eleven books that make up this anthology are the most comprehensive collection ever published of this master s works. It includes clearly edited material as well as content that have not been in print for decades. This 290-page book features an insightful foreword to help string players understand the master s approach as well as to give the reader a historical perspective. A must for the serious violin player!

"This is the most comprehensive collection of this master pedagogue's works ever published. Much of this material has been out of print for decades; some is newly edited. These books elucidate Dounis's principles of violin playing and attempt to cover virtually every conceivable technical aspect of practice and performance. Perhaps due to medical studies at the University of Vienna, his explanatory comments emphasize the proper ergonomics of violin playing and the importance of training the brain and memory. Part I: The Left Hand, by far the longer of the two parts, indicates the significance Dounis placed on left-hand technique, particularly shifting. Part II: The Bow includes an ingenious diagram titled "Genealogical Picture of Bow Strokes" that relates all bow strokes either to the simple or the accented detache. The Absolute Independence of the Fingers, Op. 15, (two books) promises that "a careful and daily practice of the following exercises will develop the strength, solidity, surety and INDIVIDUALITY of the fingers of the violin player in such a phenomenal degree of perfection, that all difficulties inherent to the left-hand technique will automatically cease to exist." Preparatory Studies, Op. 16, is also divided into two books, with detailed instructions for rhythmic variations to be applied to each exercise. The first book is studies based on thirds (melodic, not double stops), and the second is fingered octaves(again, melodic); both are designed to encompass shifting between all positions. Fundamental Trill Studies, Op. 18 is divided into 10 sections. Parts I through IV present single trills that work each of the fingers. Parts V through VII introduce double trills (sixths); Part VIII features octaves; Parts IX through X concludes with thirds. The Violin Player's Daily Dozen, Op. 20, gives "twelve fundamental exercises for the left hand and the bow" to "GET THE PLAYER INTO FORM IN A VERY SHORT SPACE OF TIME AND KEEP HIM FIT FOR THE DAY'S WORK." The Staccato, Op. 21, advances seven points to have complete mastery "at all times, in every part of the bow and at any rate of speed," including a detailed diagram to indicate exactly what point on the bow the notes are to be performed. The shortest of the 11 collected works is New Aids to the Technical Development of the Violinist, Op. 27. It introduces a fingering for one-octave scales in thirds utilizing fourth finger extensions to eliminate shifting. Studies in Chromatic Double Stops, Op. 29, is a response to the demands of non-tonal and highly chromatic music. The final work, The higher Development of Thirds and Fingered Octaves, Op. 30, is a sequel to the Preparatory Studies but treats intervals harmonically instead of melodically. Each work has an explanatory foreword and includes considerable written direction for practice." --G.H. --American String Teacher, February 2006