What to play after Cello Suite no. 1, op. 72: 1. Fuga. Andante moderato ?
Benjamin Britten · difficulty 66/100

Choose your level of commitment: consolidate, move up a tier or prepare a challenge. The top-ranked cards combine difficulty, risk, shared skills and confidence.

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Gentle step

The safest next step.

Gentle
Suite no. 1 for Solo Cello
Ernest Bloch
71/100 +5 pts 7-14 weeks
close skills low risk to confirm
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Harmoniques (violoncelle) and Style baroque — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Gentle
Cello Suite no. 1, op. 72: I. Canto Primo. Sostenuto e largamente
Benjamin Britten
70/100 +4 pts 7-14 weeks
close skills low risk fair confidence
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Voix chantante and Position du pouce — the notes will be secure long before the musical line: work in whole phrases, singing the main voice.
Gentle
Sonata for solo cello, op. 101: II. Fugare. Allegro risoluto
Vagn Holmboe
72/100 +6 pts 7-14 weeks
close skills low risk to confirm
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Legato d'archet (violoncelle) and Style moderne et contemporain — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Gentle
Cello Suite no. 1, op. 72: 5. Bordone. Moderato quasi recitativo
Benjamin Britten
70/100 +4 pts 6-12 weeks
close skills low risk fair confidence
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Position du pouce and Style baroque — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Gentle
Sonata for solo cello, op. 101
Vagn Holmboe
72/100 +6 pts 7-14 weeks
close skills low risk to confirm
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Legato d'archet (violoncelle) and Style moderne et contemporain — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Balanced step

A genuine step up, without a jolt.

Balanced
Suite no. 2 for Solo Cello
Ernest Bloch
77/100 +11 pts 14-28 weeks
close skills moderate risk to confirm
A real step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Intonation (violoncelle) and Style baroque — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Balanced
Suite no. 3 for Solo Cello
Ernest Bloch
77/100 +11 pts 14-28 weeks
close skills moderate risk to confirm
A real step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Intonation (violoncelle) and Style baroque — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Balanced
Cello Suite no. 1, op. 72: 6. Moto perpetuo e canto quarto. Presto
Benjamin Britten
76/100 +10 pts 14-28 weeks
close skills moderate risk fair confidence
A real step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Détaché (violoncelle) and Style baroque — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Balanced
Solo Cello Suite no. 1, op. 72
Benjamin Britten
76/100 +10 pts 14-28 weeks
close skills moderate risk fair confidence
A real step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Position du pouce and Style baroque — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Same level

To widen the repertoire without raising the level.

Progressions computed from difficulty, skill overlap and style between works. A What do we play next? recommendation should remain a pedagogical starting point, not an automatic prescription.