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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Nichka ta yasnaya

by Traditional · arranged by Kathy Blackwell and David Blackwell

Instrumentation
Cello, Cello
Composed
2022
Publisher
Self Published
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About this piece

'The night is clear': a traditional Ukrainian carol telling of the shepherds' joy at the birth of Christ and their journey to Bethlehem, arranged as a cello duet by Kathy and David Blackwell and free to download from their website. In D minor, marked 'With joy', with chord symbols so a guitar or piano can join in; a transliterated text of the carol is also downloadable from the same page.

Technical overview

First position with a few accidentals (C sharp, G sharp, B flat) in the lower part; 4/4 at about quarter note = 104; mf and f, with an accent and a crescendo.

Technical focus

  • Dynamics

Level rubric

Late Beginner

Left Hand

  • Mostly 1st position with small extensions.
  • Early shifting to 2nd/3rd positions.
  • Controlled vibrato on sustained notes.

Right Hand

  • Expanded bow technique for faster passages & wider dynamics.
  • Longer slurs (3–4 notes).
  • Hooked bowing for dotted rhythms.
  • Practice basic martelé accents.
  • Increase speed in string crossings with minimal arm movement.

Bow Strokes

  • Standard détaché; add staccato, martelé, short slurs, hooked strokes.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Incorporate dotted figures, compound meters (6/8), triplets & syncopation.
  • Develop subdivision sense; introduce rubato in small measures.
  • Slightly longer phrases.
  • Introduce basic dynamic shading.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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