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"as a guide for string teachers in presenting a logical sequence of studies and repertory." 1 There were eight "level grades," plus a young artists level, and much less material in the "Technical Studies," "Etudes," and "Reper tory" departments in those days. There was no "Ensemble" category, but there was a sec tion of publishers' addresses. The viola committee for this new 1997 edition consisted of Richard L. Bauer, Steven Kruse, and Robert Stoskopf. According to brief biographies, they are active violists and teachers in Oregon, Missouri, and Georgia, re spectively. Kruse is a member of the American Viola Society. The listings for each of the six "grades" now in use are preceded by a descrip tion of the limits of performance accomplish ment for that level. The reader is supposed to be guided as to what repertory is appropriate for, say, level 4, by this instruction. "The first five positions are used freely; a few higher notes may be added. Double stops and chords appear more frequently. Hemiola and poly rhythm may be introduced. Passages may be written for various forms of spiccato, sautille, and staccato bowings." 2 Of course assigning levels of difficulty is a most personal task, and everyone expressing opinions probably will hold different ones. Given the vagueness of grade definition, the user should realize that the levels are quite broad and are certainly valid only if thought of in relative terms. However, these lists are useful in identifying good, standard studies and repertory, and their publishers, which are likely to be available currently. The fine points of appropriateness probably are not identified. 3 In his "Guidelines for Using This Syl labus"4 David Littrell points out that there is no guarantee that the music listed will be in print and available. There is a list of eleven small publishing houses and their addresses. (Viola World 5 is not among them.) There is not included in the Syllabus ways of contact ing the major publishing houses or help in ordering music. Instead, the reader is referred to The Music Publishers' Association of the

United States for current addresses. A list of addresses, or telephone numbers, web or e-mail addresses would be most useful. String Syllabus is attractively presented, spiral bound, and large enough to be easy to use. It will be a welcome help and is, at least in the viola section, a sincere and well-executed effort to present the literature in an organized and reasonable way. Congratulations are in order for the American String Teachers Associ ation. String Syllabus Volume II is also now available. It is devoted to music for guitar and harp. Notes 1. String Syllabus, American String Teachers Associa tion (Kenneth Byler, Peter Farrell, and Paul Rolland, Syllabus Committee Chairmen) (Urbana, Ill., 1963.) 2. page 28. 3. A somewhat more refined list of graded viola literature can be found in Henry Barrett, The Viola, Complete Guide for Teachers and Students, 2nd ed. (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1978). Of course it's twenry years old, but it does have a "Direc tory of Music Publishers." 4. page vii. 5. Viola World, 2 Inlander Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. This small publisher has a fine, practical catalogue, which includes studies, repertoire, and ensembles. Thomas G. Hall Chapman University