Mel Bay publishes my cello books. Click here to see and purchase them. You can also get my book Fiddle & Son from Alfred Publishing.

• The Smith’s Set, Concert Scottish Tunes from Alfred Publishing
• Shady Grove, Belwin String Orchestra Series from Alfred Publishing
• Green Grows the Laurel for String Orchestra available from Hal Lenord

I have several string orchestra arrangements that are out of print. If you are interested in any of these titles, please contact me.

• Tangerine Blue and Strawberry Ice (Blues Rock Originals for Beginning String Orchestra),
• Besame Mucho and Song for My Father (Latin Jazz Songs for String Quintet),
• Lamentation for James Moray of Abercarney and Tonight My Sleep Will be Restless (Scottish Tunes for Beginning String Orchestra)
• Winter Fest and Nuts, Crackers, Sweet (Holiday Songs for Beginning String Orchestra) – with tunes from Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite – reinterpreted with some rock and roll and a fiddle tune or two),
• Silent Night and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Christmas Songs for String Quartet),
• Amazing Grace and Simple Gifts (Folk Hymns for Beginning String Orchestra)

 and Highland/Etling String Alternatives publishes

• The Smith’s Set (Concert Scottish Tunes) PDF Download
• Midnight on the Water (Texas Waltz – level 1.5) (PDF Download),
• Outbound Express (level 3) and
• Summer Choro (Latin style Brazilian choro level 3) PDF Download, or Bound copy.

Choose a highlighted publisher to view and purchase – or order from your favorite music store.

A Slice of Summer

Eclectic American instrumentals by Renata Bratt, featuring the varied and gorgeous sounds of the cello ranging from Brazilian, jazz, rock and newgrass, through the soaring sounds of a dreamscape orchestra of mandolins and saxophones.

Featuring:

You can listen to this on Spotify or YouTube

Jazz Trio 2006

Jazz Trio 2006, composed of cellist Renata Bratt, violinist Martin Norgaard, and pianist Bert Ligon, began performing together at the South Carolina Suzuki Institute in Greenville.

Renata Bratt is one of the new crop of improvising cellists and a nationally recognized clinician with two books published by Mel Bay. She was dubbed an “ace player” in Rolling Stone for her work with alternative rocker Cindy Lee Berryhill.

Bert Ligon is director of jazz studies at the University of South Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Music and his Master of Music in jazz piano performance and arranging from the University of North Texas and writes beautiful jazz arrangements for strings available through Alfred Publications.

Violinist Martin Norgaard is the author of the groundbreaking method books Jazz Fiddle Wizard and Jazz Fiddle/Viola/Cello Wizard Jr. for Mel Bay Publications. He is currently a Doctoral Fellow in Music Education with a jazz emphasis at The University of Texas at Austin.

Great Big Taters: Fiddle Tunes for Cellos and Guitar

I am proud to have recorded these tunes with the two finest fiddling cellists in the world today – Rushad Eggleston and Natalie Haas.

We recorded at Open Path Music, a great studio in San Jose, California. Scott Sorkin engineered and helped produce – great work Scott!

Delight in the low lonesome sound of cellos playing authentic fiddle tunes – rowdy, stately, rhythmic and unbelievably beautiful.

You can listen to this on Spotify or YouTube

With Paul Zarzyski

Poet Paul Zarzyski met Open Path Music producer Gordon Stevens at the National Cowboy Poet Gathering in Elko, Nevada a few years ago. They decided to work on setting some of Paul’s poetry and lyrics to music. Paul had heard my CD Great Big Taters so we did a number together using his poem “Potatoes” and the tunes Taters, Blackberry Blossom and a third mystery tune. It ended up as one of the tracks on this CD.

You can listen to this album on Spotify

Another CD from the Paul Zarzyski/Open Path Music collaboration. I play on two tunes—Luck of the Draw and Black upon Tan—both lovely poems and settings, one by Tim Volpicella, the other by Gordon Stevens.

You can listen to this album on Spotify

Here is a link to the internet archive page for OpenPathMusic’s CD Page