The 30 duets for teacher and pupil are occupied principally with the formation of tone and rhythm on the violin, using only the open strings, and were written between 1974 and 1976. Even though a tone row of Schoenberg’s is hidden in the used material, the duets sound rather as if they were descended from the style of Bartók.
The Miniatures later became part of the first volume of a violin method, on which Staar worked for a long time. For this, he enhanced the collection with eight additional ensemble pieces (for 3-5 violins), which he recorded himself using the playback method (he is playing all the parts).
| Miniature 1: | Two little devils | Vienna, 11. February 1974 | 30'' |
| Miniature 2: | Scarecrow | Vienna, 6. March 1974 | 25'' |
| Miniature 3: | The naïve peasant | Vienna, 6. March 1974 | 25'' |
| Miniature 4: | Melody in waves | Vienna, 6. March 1974 | 35'' |
| Miniature 5: | Walking rag | Vienna, May 1974 | 30'' |
| Miniature 6: | Hussars' ride | Vienna, 14. June 1974 | 25'' |
| Miniature 7: | Dance of the Koldunian warlocks |
Vienna, 26. June 1974 | 25'' |
| Miniature 8: | Zephyr | Vienna, 19. January 1975 | 25'' |
| Miniature 9: | Tossing dice in Skopje | Vienna, 29. June 1974 | 35'' |
| Miniature 10: | South Slavic leaping dance | Guglham, 4. August 1974 | 35'' |
| Miniature 11: | City man's courtship song for a country girl |
Vienna, 18. August 1974 | 55'' |
| Miniature 12: | Ostentatious baron | Vienna, 22. August 1974 | 35'' |
| Miniature 13: | Lullaby from Mostar | Vienna, 21. February 1975 | 1'15 |
| Miniature 14: | Tango | Vienna, 9. March 1975 | 50'' |
| Miniature 15: | Dancing rag | Vienna, 28. May 1975 | 30'' |
| Miniature 16: | Spirals | Vienna, 30. May 1975 | 1' |
| Miniature 17: | Night music of the Smyrnian smugglers | Vienna, 31. May 1975 | 1' |
| Miniature 18: | Pierced melody | Vienna, June 1975 | 1'25 |
| Miniature 19: | High-speed march | Vienna, June 1975 | 30'' |
| Miniature 20: | Dolls' dance | Vienna, June 1975 | 25'' |
| Miniature 21: | Black | Vienna, June 1975 | 1'05 |
| Miniature 22: | Dracula's love dance | Vienna, June 1975 | 50'' |
| Miniature 23: | Nostalgic | Vienna, June 1975 | 1' |
| Miniature 24: | Horó in Bulgarian style | Vienna, 10. June 1975 | 1' |
| Miniature 25: | In the manner of a recitative | Vienna, 25. June 1975 | 1' |
| Miniature 26: | Sentimental song (in dodecaphonic manner) | Vienna, 25. September 1975 | 20'' |
| Miniature 27: | Euro Samba | Vienna, 27. February 1976 | 35'' |
| Miniature 28: | Lullaby for a walrus baby | Vienna, 27. February 1976 | 1' |
| Miniature 29: | Happy Birthday Ragtime | Vienna, 28. February 1976 | 30'' |
| Miniature 30: | Farewell song | Vienna, 12. March 1976 | 35'' |
| Ensemble 1: | Reminiscence of Kunitachi | Vienna, 5. July 2009 | 50'' |
| Ensemble 2: | Nordic fiddlers (Pelimannit/Spelmän) |
Vienna, 16. October 1009 | 50'' |
| Ensemble 3: | Slow marzurka in jazz style | Vienna, 8. November 2009 | 55'' |
| Ensemble 4: | Sentimental melody | Vienna, 8. November 2009 | 2' |
| Ensemble 5: | Spring song | Vienna, 10. November 2009 | 44'' |
| Ensemble 6: | Clowns | Vienna, 14. November 2009 | 24'' |
| Ensemble 7: | Chagall's violin | Vienna, November 2009 | 28'' |
| Ensemble 8: | Country fair | Vienna, 15. November 2009 | 25'' |
Audio samples:
Miniature 17: Night music of the Smyrnian smugglers
|
René Staar - Balkan Mosaik |
|
Miniature 20: Dolls' dance
|
René Staar - Balkan Mosaik |
|
Miniature 22: Dracula's love dance
|
René Staar - Balkan Mosaik |
|
Ensemble 1: Reminiscence of Kunitachi
|
René Staar - Balkan Mosaik |
|
Ensemble 8: Country fair
|
René Staar - Balkan Mosaik |
|