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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Shadow of the Hawk

by Gareth Farr

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
1997
Duration
11'
Publisher
Promethean Editions
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About this piece

An exuberant work for cello and piano that draws on the rhythms and colours of Balinese gamelan with echoes of Prokofiev and Shostakovich. The music drives forward almost constantly, with many passages of tightly rhythmic unison between the two instruments, interrupted by lyrical sections that show off the cello's expressive side. Published by Promethean Editions (PE016, Wellington) and distributed in the United States by Theodore Presser.

Technical overview

Sustained rhythmic unison playing with the piano, constant forward momentum and considerable stamina are the main demands; lyrical sections contrast the motoric writing.

Technical focus

  • Pizzicato
  • Meter Changes
  • Treble Clef
  • Double Stops
  • Detaché
  • Dynamics
  • Hairpin Dynamics
  • Accidentals
  • Tempo Changes
  • Articulation

Level rubric

Advanced

Left Hand

  • Unrestricted fingerboard operation.
  • Effortless high‑register passages with thumb position.
  • Execute large leaps, rapid shifts & fast runs with precise intonation.
  • Render double stops with clarity and even vibrato.
  • Crisp, stylistically appropriate ornamentation (trills, turns, mordents).
  • Instinctive micro‑adjustments in intonation for expressiveness.
  • False harmonics in low positions

Right Hand

  • Complete command of all bow strokes at any tempo/dynamic.
  • Comfortable execution of virtuoso passages (sautillé, intricate ricochet).
  • Tone projection from whisper‑quiet to fortissimo.
  • Integrate advanced bow patterns with expressive phrasing.
  • Demonstrate technical precision with a broad dynamic range.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Interpret large‑scale structures with nuanced pacing and rhythmic freedom.
  • Highly refined phrasing with subtle note grouping & expressive rubato.
  • Convey emotional depth and stylistic authenticity.
  • Incorporate personal interpretive choices while meeting stylistic demands.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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