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About this piece
Crunch Time is a short piece for cello and piano by British composer and teacher Nancy Litten, published by ABRSM in 2023 for its string syllabuses from 2024. In the cello syllabus it is set at Initial Grade (List C, no. 2), and versions for violin and viola are set at the same grade. It is in D major in 4/4, marked Pesante (crotchet = c.100), and the cello part is marked 'grungy and non-legato'. The composer describes it as 'a vigorous, grungy piece with crunchy harmonies' to be played 'with attitude'. It appears in ABRSM's Cello Exam Pack from 2024, Initial Grade, and is also sold as a single digital edition.
Technical overview
A 22-bar Initial Grade piece in D major using first-position notes on the G, D and A strings. It works on firm, separate-bow crotchets and quavers with string crossings, C naturals against the key signature and a closing pizzicato.
Technical focus
- A String Notes
- D String Notes
- G String Notes
- String Crossings
- Detaché
- Accidentals
- Pizzicato