Rieding: Dance of the Dragonflies (Libellentanz, Op. 20)

Violin Solo (Edited by Heather Kaye Broadbent) + Public Domain Piano Score

This beautifully prepared edition of Oskar Rieding’s Dance of the Dragonflies highlights the pedagogical brilliance often hidden inside his lesser-known works. This piece revealed itself as an unexpected gem within the violin repertoire—rarely studied or performed, yet remarkably rich in technical and musical value.

What makes Dance of the Dragonflies so remarkable is Rieding’s intentional design: the piece is constructed as a shifting study, guiding the violinist up and down a single string with clarity and purpose. This architecture helps developing players understand the fingerboard as a grid, building confidence in navigating positions all the way up toward the top of the instrument.

The fingerings in this edition were carefully chosen to elevate the technical level to late-intermediate and early-advanced, encouraging the violinist to:

• move with ease through the full range of positions
• develop security in higher positions
• strengthen shifting accuracy and fingerboard awareness
• cultivate freedom and fluidity in vertical motion

The suggested pathways also mimic the effortless flight of a dragonfly—gliding upward, floating, dropping lightly from height, and shifting direction with grace. This imagery supports the technical goal: to help the violinist release fear, build confidence, and develop the freedom needed for advanced repertoire.

Though absent from the familiar pages of exam books and graded syllabi, this piece lives quietly at the edge of the repertoire—an overlooked jewel.

What’s Included

Edited Violin Solo Part (PDF)

with Heather Kaye Broadbent’s fingerings, bowings, and expressive markings

Complete Score (Public Domain, PDF)

clean, performance-ready printout including violin + piano

Piano Accompaniment Audio File (m4a)

high-quality practice track for use anytime — no internet required

Editor’s Note (PDF)

detailing Heather’s pedagogical approach, interpretive guidance, and engraving considerations

Why This Edition Matters

• Introduces shifting in a way that feels intuitive and musical
• Builds the foundational skills required for advanced violin literature
• Ideal for ambitious young violinists or adult learners seeking a new challenge
• Elevates a rarely-taught Rieding piece into meaningful technical study

Continue Your Rieding Journey

For tutorials, guided practice, and in-depth instruction on this and other Rieding works, you are warmly invited to join:

👉 The “Discovering Oskar Rieding” Course

https://shop.heatherkayeviolin.com/b/NtvV0