This wonderfully diverse collection explores the world of traditional fiddle music from Irish to gypsy and from bluegrass to Latin-American, with many other exciting and intriguing styles along the way. The CD reflects this diversity with supporting bands featuring an extraordinary variety of instrumental colours including authentic sounds drawn from the Celtic countries, central and eastern Europe, and from the Americas. The Fiddler Playalong Collection 1 contains tunes from every book in the Fiddler Collection series. The musical arrangements cater for violinists ranging from the advanced player to the relative beginner, with violin melody lines that vary in standard from exam board grades 3 to 6. But if the melody is just out of reach, the aspiring fiddler can still join in with the easy violin part. Players who are looking for a challenge can try the violin accompaniment, which powers the ensemble along with incisive rhythms and double-stopped chords. The arrangements in this collection follow the same flexible format as the other books in the series and can be performed as solos or duets (or played by larger ensembles), accompanied by piano, violin or guitar, with or without the CD accompaniment. The printed materials include all the parts you need, and the ensemble sounds on the CD are full of ideas for creating a stylish band with whatever players and resources are available - or for whoever turns up on the night! Above all, this is music to play and enjoy with other people. Whether it is the rhythmic drive of a Scottish ceilidh or the heart-tugging lyricism of a klezmer wedding, the music is full of freshness, spontaneity and communicative flair.