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Cello Repertoire Initiative

A Cello Advent, 25 Days of Christmas Solos and Duets for a Most Joyous Season

by Cassia Harvey

Instrumentation
Cello
Publisher
C. Harvey Publications
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Cover of A Cello Advent, 25 Days of Christmas Solos and Duets for a Most Joyous Season
Cover courtesy of C. Harvey Publications

About this piece

Discover this friendly, easily playable Christmas cello book with lots of options for players and teachers alike! This book contains 25 Holiday practice segments, one for each day of the Christmas season. Each segment contains an exercise, a Christmas tune, and a fun, inventive variation on the tune, plus a duet part so that you can play with another cello in a lesson or chamber music get-together! If you are looking for cello Christmas music that will inspire you for the entire month of December, A Cello Advent is the perfect addition to your holiday practice sessions. Looking to play Christmas music with friends? This book is compatible with A Violin Advent Book (CHP431) and A Viola Advent Book (CHP432) and can be used to play duets with those instruments as well! This cello Christmas solo and duet book is mostly in first position, with occasional fourth position, includes some extensions, and is set at a late-beginning/early intermediate level. Play Along tracks are available through a link in the book. This book could be followed by Sailing Into Bethlehem; Christmas Duets for Two Cellos and Following the Star; Solo Christmas Carol Arrangements for Unaccompanied Cello. Co-written by Cassia Harvey and Myanna Harvey.

Technical overview

Christmas music for solo cello or cello duet for every day of the holiday season.

Level rubric

Early Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Regular shifting among 1st–4th positions.
  • Frequent shifts with target notes & prepared approaches.
  • Introduce ornamentation (grace notes, slow trills, turns).
  • Begin basic double stops (often with one open note).
  • Combine extensions with shifting.
  • Consistent vibrato on sustained notes with speed variations.

Right Hand

  • Bow arm gains finesse and speed.
  • Introduce controlled spiccato.
  • Sautillé appears in rapid passages.
  • Expand legato into longer, sustained lines.
  • Practice advanced articulations (martelé, refined string crossings).
  • Add complex strokes for double stops/chords.

Bow Strokes

  • Use context‑appropriate strokes: legato, spiccato, martelé.
  • Subtle bow changes during string crossings.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Increased challenges: sixteenths, dotted rhythms, syncopation, contrasting subdivisions.
  • Emphasize expression with crescendos/decrescendos & vibrato.
  • Balance technical precision with emotional delivery.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

Music

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