Formation
Cello and piano · 2 performers
Required forces
Cello
1 performers
Piano
1 performers
Playable parts
Cello
Piano
MusicCoach difficulty
36/100
Elementary
Level of the complete work
We have no level specific to this movement. The figure above is that of the complete work: within a cycle, movements often differ widely in demand.
Estimated skills
Theory
Harmonic analysis
1
Theory
Knowledge of forms
1
Tone
Vibrato (cello)
1
Reading
Bass clef reading
1
Technique
Bow legato (cello)
1
Ornaments
Baroque ornaments
1
Style
Baroque style
1
Technique
Intonation (cello)
1
Technique
Legato
1
Interpretation
Dynamics
1
Interpretation
Phrasing
1
What to play next?
Each suggestion combines difficulty gap, risk, confidence and skill overlap. The first two cards in each column are the most useful pedagogically.
Gentle step
The safest next step.
No suggestion yet.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Cello Concerto in D minor, RV.406
Antonio Vivaldi
partial transfer
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up: this piece moves you into Elementary (around grade 3 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Lecture avec altérations accidentelles and Style baroque — reading the score is itself an obstacle before technique: budget time for plain reading.
Balanced
Cello Concerto in F major, RV.412
Antonio Vivaldi
partial transfer
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up: this piece moves you into Elementary (around grade 3 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Lecture avec altérations accidentelles and Style baroque — reading the score is itself an obstacle before technique: budget time for plain reading.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Cello Sonata in G major, op. 1, no. 6
Benedetto Marcello
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. The skill that will carry the work: Vibrato (violoncelle) and Connaissance des formes — what matters is a steady sustained tone: bow speed, contact point and pressure even, before any thought of speed.
Challenge
Cello Sonata in G minor, SF. 750
Benedetto Marcello
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Elementary (around grade 4 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Changements de position (violoncelle) and Vibrato (violoncelle) — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Same level
Same level
Dolci Pianti, romance for cello and orchestra
Johann Strauss Jr
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Beginner (around grade 2 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Voix chantante — the notes will be secure long before the musical line: work in whole phrases, singing the main voice.
Same level
Divertimento, for cello and orchestra
Franz Joseph Haydn
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Beginner (around grade 2 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Style classique and Connaissance des formes — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.