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Sailing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos

by Myanna Harvey

Instrumentation
Cello, Cello
Publisher
C. Harvey Publications
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Cover of Sailing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos
Cover courtesy of C. Harvey Publications

About this piece

Looking for intriguingly beautiful intermediate cello holiday duets? Sailing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos gives you a chance to play the carols you love with your teacher, your students, or your friends. Weaving melodies with accompaniment, Myanna Harvey has created a Christmas book in the style of Flying Fiddle Duets for Two Cellos. Playable, enjoyable, and performable, these duets are a welcome addition to the existing cello Christmas music available. This book is written for an early-intermediate to intermediate level, is in first through fourth positions, and only uses bass clef. Know any violinists or violists? You can pick up a copy of the violin book or the viola book and play with those instruments as well; the cello book is fully compatible with the violin and viola books! Like this book? Try the companion book Dancing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos for even more enchanting carol arrangements!

Technical overview

Beautiful cello Christmas carols; can be played with another cello or with the violin or viola book.

Level rubric

Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Fluent in positions 1–4 with confident shifts & reliable intonation.
  • Introduce 5th position via scales/études.
  • Learn tenor clef for higher passages.
  • Early exposure to thumb position basics.
  • Refine combined shifting & extensions.
  • Advance double stops (two‑note chords).
  • Refine vibrato for expressive shaping.

Right Hand

  • High control over multiple bow strokes.
  • Advanced spiccato for fast passages; reliable sautillé.
  • Apply martelé at frog and mid‑bow.
  • Execute rapid string crossings with minimal arm movement.
  • Adjust contact point to modulate tone.
  • Introduce complex bow patterns & chord rolling.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Faster tempos & varied meter challenges.
  • Tackle compound meters, intricate ornaments & syncopation.
  • Deepen expressive phrasing; analyze piece structure.
  • Clear dynamic contrasts; introduce slight rubato.
  • Enhance ensemble sensitivity.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.