This suite of eight pieces portrays the ethnic or folk character of a child's dolls, drawing freely on national folk tunes. The set is edited by the Villa-Lobos scholar David P. Appleby, who was honored by the Brazilian government with the Villa-Lobos Centennial Medal for his outstanding research into the life and music of the composer. Each piece has its own unique, sharply drawn character and is sure to appeal with an abundant degree of rhythmic sophistication.

Contents are: Study Points for Volume 2 * Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus (G.F. Handel) * Musette, Gavotte II or the Musette from English Suite III in G Minor for Klavier, BWV 808 (J.S. Bach) * Hunters' Chorus from 3rd Act of the opera Der Freischutz (C.M. von Weber) * Long, Long Ago (T.H. Bayly) * Waltz, Op. 39, No. 15 for Piano (J. Brahms) * Bourre from Sonata in F Major for Oboe, HHA IV/18, No. 8 (G.F. Handel) * The Two Grenadiers, Die beiden Grenadier, Op. 49, No. 1 for Voice and Piano (R. Schumann) * Theme from Witches' Dance (N. Paganini) * Gavotte from Mignon (A. Thomas) * Gavotte (J.B. Lully) * Minuet in G, Wo0 10, No. 2 (L. van Beethoven) * Minuet from Sei Quintetti per Archi No. 11, Op. 11, No. 5 in E Major (L. Boccherini).

The New International Edition of Suzuki Piano School, Volume 1 includes French, German and Spanish translations as well as a newly recorded CD performed by internationally renowned recording artist Seizo Azuma. Now the book and CD can be purchased together or separately. While the music selections in Volume 1 remain the same as the earlier edition, the spacious new engraving with minimal editing generally keeps only one piece per page. Instruction material in many pieces from Volume 1 has been removed in lieu of right-hand studies at the top of the page and left-hand studies at the bottom. Tempo markings are now included on many pieces. Titles: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" Variations (Shinichi Suzuki) * Lightly Row (German Folk Song) * The Honeybee (Bohemian Folk Song) * Cuckoo (German Folk Song) * Lightly Row (German Folk Song) * French Children's Song (French Folk Song) * London Bridge (English Folk Song) * Mary Had a Little Lamb (American Nursery Song) * Go Tell Aunt Rhody (Folk Song) * Au Clair de la Lune (J. B. Lully) * Long, Long Ago (T. H. Bayly) * Little Playmates (F. X. Chwatal) * Chant Arabe (Anonymous) * Allegretto 1 (C. Czerny) * Goodbye to Winter (Folk Song) * Allegretto 2 (C. Czerny) * Christmas-Day Secrets (T. Dutton) * Allegro (S. Suzuki) * Musette (Anonymous). The International editions include an updated title page that designates the book as the International Edition.

The "story of a child prodigy caught in a grotesque pattern of exploitaiton and abuse, her oppressor, her father, whose controlling passion was money, not music. After fleeing from her father and growing up in unhappy obscurity, Ruth Slenczynska has become again a remarkable and now mature pianist." Pub W.

Brazilian pianist/composer Ernesto Jí_lio de Nazareth (1863-1934) composed approximately 210 works for the piano. His tangos "Brejerio" and "Odeon" were immensely popular during his lifetime and continue to be two of the most popular pieces ever written by a Brazilian salon composer. Written for late intermediate to early advanced level pianists, both are included here, along with four other tangos, two waltzes, and a charming polka, "Ameno resedíç". Nazareth's position in Brazilian music is often compared with Scott Joplin's historical importance in American music.