Jenny Oaks Baker Christmas Collection - Violin

By Jenny Oaks Baker

I love this book, it is full of challenging yet beautiful arrangements of familiar christmas pieces.

I have another Jenny Oaks Baker collection but this one is not my favorite. I would return it if I could. Out of the entire collection and trying them all with an accomplished violinist, we decided to perform none of these. The music in this book seems to lack substance...

and depth. It seems challenging for no reason - the runs and the flourishes don't add. The music also belongs to a genre that doesn't exist and seems to have no audience - classical/romantic/baroque music meets a century to come/Irish pop(ahem: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring). Rethink this purchase, save your money and go for beautiful standards, such as Gesu Bambino for violin and piano.

I am always looking for well done arrangements that are difficult enough, and these are perfect. There are keys like Ab, 32nd note runs, and positions up to 11th. The arrangements are not only difficult, but very well done, and the piano part nicely compliments the violin part. You can...

look up Jenny's CD album of these pieces to listen to them.

my father in law was thrilled with the music.