A COMPLIT#H THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL SCHOOL FOR THE VIOLONCEELG. BY BERNARD ROMBERG. ‘With Musteations of the Position in whioh the Viclonoello should be held in order to fuclitate performance, BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY OLIVER DITSON, 115 WASHINGTON 8T. EW ‘YORK: BERRY & GORDON. PHILADELPHIA: J, B GOULD. CINCINNATI: D..A. TRUAX.PREFACE. (hough many Tastraction Books for the Violoncello havo been published in which players may find much that ia useful, not one has yet appeared by which he who is wholly ignorant of Music can be properly taught ; there is no Aoubt, however, that s gradual improvement towards perfection, (especially on the Violoncello) chiefly depends on the merits of Elementary Instruction, If, by means of a faulty eystem, a scholar bas acquired a stif, awkward modo of bowing, he will afterwards find it a yery difficult matter to use his bow with lightness and flexibility. It happens but too often, that beginners give themselves little or no trouble about the first Elements, and yet there is nothing so indisponsable to the scholar, even after a certain degree of improvement, as fall and perfect acquaintance with tho rudiments ofthe art Tstrenuonsly recommend to all Masters the constant exercise of patience, for itis solely by the practice of this virtue that they will gradually lead their scholars to that stago of perfection which will enable ‘them to satisfy themselves, and pleaso others by their musical performance. T must here remark, that although the following work cannot be properly addressed to proficents on the Instrument, it contains much information that may be serviceable to many of them. ) Almost every Professor, both in the practice of his Art, and the mode of holding the Instrument, may have his own peculiarities. It is not my intention to interfere with, or to decry any particular system ; but it may not, however, be deemed out of place, if Ibe allowed to ecquaint ‘them with tho method in which I use the Instrument. I have been frequently requested, in the most flattering. terms, to give this Method to the Public, and the reason of my not having hitherto yielded to these entreaties is that I have continually wanted both time and leisure to afrange this eystom, which is tho result of many years’ experience, in such ‘an onder as to make it fit for publication, and co as to afford me a hope that it might prove of that real utility which should bo the solo object of such a work, and for which I now request the kind reception of the Publi. BERNARD ROMBERG.