icult virtuoso
solos should not be written, as they attract too much attention to a
particular instrument. Solo stringed instruments are also used when
vigourous expression and technical facility are not required, but
simply in order to obtain that singular difference in colour which
exists between a solo stringed instrument and strings in unison. Two
solo instruments can be coupled together, e.g. 2 _Violins soli_, etc.
and in very rare cases a quartet of solo strings may be employed.

_Examples:_

_Violin solo:_

No. 222-223. _Snegourotchka_ [[54]], [[275]].

_The May Night_, pp. 64-78.

_Mlada_, Act I [[52]]; Act III, before [[19]].

* _A Fairy Tale_ [[W]].

* _Sheherazade_, 1st movement [[C]], [[G]]; also the passages at
the start of each movement.

* _Spanish Capriccio_ [[H]], [[K]], [[R]], and the cadence on p. 38.

* No. 224. _Legend of Kitesh_ [[310]]--Vn. solo, on harmonic basis of
strings _sul ponticello_ and wood-wind.

_Snegourotchka_ [[274]], [[279]]--2 Vns soli (cf. Ex. 9).

_Viola solo:_

No. 225. _Snegourotchka_ [[212]].

_Sadko_ [[137]].

* No. 226. _The Golden Cockerel_ [[163]]; cf. also [[174]], [[177]].

_Violoncello solo:_

_Snegourotchka_ [[187]] (cf. Ex. 102).

_The Christmas Night_, before [[29]], [[130]].

_Mlada_, Act III [[36]].

* _The Golden Cockerel_ [[177]], [[180]] (cf. Ex. 229).

_Double bass solo:_

* No. 227. _Mlada_, Act II [[10-12]]--a special instance where the
first string is tuned down.

_Solo quartet:_

_The Christmas Night_ [[222]]--Vn., Viola, 'Cello, D. bass.

* No. 228. _Tsar Saltan_ [[248]]--Vn. I, Vn. II, Viola, 'Cello.

* The case of a solo stringed instrument doubled by the wood-wind in
unison must not be forgotten. The object is to attain great purity and
abundance of tone, without impairing the timbre of the solo instrument
(especially in the high and low registers), or to produce a certain
highly-coloured effect.

_Examples:_

* _Mlada_, Act II [[52]]--Vn. + Fl.; Act IV [[31]]--Viol. + Fl. +
Harp.

* _The Christmas Night_ [[212]]--2 Vns + Fl. + Small Cl. (cf. Ex.
153).

* _Pan Voyevoda_ [[67]]--2 Vns + 2 Ob.; 2 Violas + 2 Cl.

* _Legend of Kitesh_ [[306]]--Bass cl. + C-fag. (cf. Ex. 10).

" " " [[309]]--Vn. + Fl.

* No. 229. _The Golden Cockerel_ [[179]]--Vn. + Picc.; 'Cello + Bass
cl.

* As shown in Chap. II, 2 Vns soli or Violin solo + Fl. (Picc.) are
often sufficient to double a melody in the upper