Skip to content

Dancing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos

by Myanna Harvey

Instrumentation
Cello, Cello
Publisher
C. Harvey Publications
More by this composer

Purchase or download

Cover of Dancing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos
Cover courtesy of C. Harvey Publications

About this piece

Looking for even more intriguingly beautiful intermediate cello holiday duets? Dancing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos gives you a second volume of carols arranged for two cellos that can be played for gigs, for special occasions, or just for fun! Weaving melodies with accompaniment, Myanna Harvey has created a Christmas book to follow the very popular Sailing Into Bethlehem: Christmas Duets for Two Cellos. These carols are unique, including some rare gems; never overplayed, they have been specially curated to provide a backdrop to the magic of the Christmas season. Evocative of times past, they can bring warmth and elegance to any situation. Playable, enjoyable, performable: these duets are a welcome addition to the Christmas chamber music repertoire. 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! This cello Christmas duet book is in first through fourth positions.

Technical overview

Beautiful Christmas carol arrangements for cello duet. Compatible with other books in the series.

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.