need help on Cello music...?

Question

ok, so i love playing the cello, i play cello, violin, clarinet, and piano but i was wondering if anybody knew some really good cello songs: intermediate-advanced. also if anyone knows some good cello and viola duets for my friend and i

besides the suzuki books though because i already have that....

yeah...ive played he bach suites AWESOME

Answer 1

A lot of the songs in the Suzuki books are really nice. My favorite song to play on the cello is called the Kiowa Love Song. It is a simple, haunting melody. I've actually recorded it on a CD and am playing violin over it. You can find the music for it in a book called "World on a String." I believe that it is published by Alfred. You could buy a viola and cello copy as there are some duets in the book. It has music from all around the world.
You can also find duet sheet music to purchase at www.sharmusic.com

Answer 2

I'm neither a cellist nor a violist, although I have played both instruments a bit, so I'm answering a little bit as an outsider. But let me see if I can help.

Let's take the tough question first--violin/cello duets.

I'm only aware of two books that I think fit your criteria.

Duet “With 2 Obligato Eyeglasses” by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Romantic Duets for Viola and Cello—The Swan and Humoresque.

As far as cello in general, here are a few of the books that I have found interesting.

The Fiddling Cellist By Renata Bratt. This is a Mel Bay publication. ISBN 0786658649.

Another Mel Bay publication is The American Fiddle Method Volume 1. I know it says fiddle, but he has an edition for cello.

Celtic Grooves for Two Cellos: 47 Irish & Scottish Tunes. By Renata Bratt. Again, Mel Bay. Honestly, I don't know this specific book, but I would be willing to give it a shot if I were looking for something fun just because it is out of Mel Bay.

I've heard some good things about Jazz Cello/Bass Wizard. By Martin Norgaard. (What I have heard is good is the fact that you are working on improvisation and have the CD accompaniment)

Jazz Expressions And Explorations - Bass Clef By David Baker. Again, due to the improvisation involved!

(Aside. Mark Wood (http://www.markwoodmusic.com/) is a rock n roll violinist. He teaches improvisation to middle and high school students. He has written a book on learning to improvise which I understand is in the editing phase. When it comes out it ought to be really good. I don't know the format right now, but if he produces it for cello as well as violin it ought to be great for fun! And my guess is that it will come out in a cello edition since he produces both electric violins and electric cellos. (see http://www.woodviolins.com/)

Now I've stayed away from classical since you said "songs," but I really have to throw two suggestions in.

The Elgar Album for Cello, arranged by Julian Lloyd Webber. I'm a fan of Elgar to begin with. Webber is one of the three or four cellists that I could listen to daily

And one of the great tragedies in classical music was the early death of Jacqueline du Pré. Her arrangement of The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saen would be on my short list as well.

Finally, there are many books of popular music arranged for cello. I know that there are books of Harry Potter music, Disney music, and even the currently popular High School Musical movie is arranged for cello!

My web site is an affiliate of sheetmusicplus.com, so I know that all of these are available through them, but I am sure that most (if not all) are available through other sources! Maybe even your local music store!

BTW, my best friend growing up was a cellist. He and I experimented with doing arrangements of popular songs ourselves. Sometimes it just involved transcribing pieces to the proper clefs. Not only was the end result fun, it taught us more than a little about one another's instruments, both in theory and the practical matters of what was and what was not easily do-able!

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

If you haven't played them by now, the Bach Cello Suites are my FAVORITES!!! Please tell me you have!