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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Sonata for Cello and Piano

by Violet Archer

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
1956
Duration
20'
Publisher
Canadian Music Centre (unpublished; printed by CMC)
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About this piece

Violet Archer wrote her Sonata for Cello and Piano in 1956 and revised it in 1972. The four movements are Andante con moto ed espressivo, Allegro, Larghetto espressivo and Allegro ma non troppo, and the whole work lasts about 20 minutes. The score is unpublished; the Canadian Music Centre prints it on demand and lends copies from its library. Cellist Joan Harrison and pianist Elaine Keillor recorded it on the 2014 Naxos album When Music Sounds.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Late Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Master positions up to 7th.
  • Use 5th–7th positions for high notes; early thumb position basics.
  • Learn treble clef for 4th, 5th, 6th positions.
  • Practice complex shifting with guide‑finger techniques.
  • Manage upper extensions; play double stops (thirds, fourths, sixths) with consistency.
  • Use continuous, selectively applied vibrato.

Right Hand

  • Develop advanced bow strokes: deliberate ricochet & controlled up‑bow staccato.
  • Execute quick string crossings & precise chord articulations.
  • Achieve wide dynamic range while maintaining tone.
  • Seamless transitions between spiccato and legato.
  • Execute multiple stops/chord rolls rapidly.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Increased complexity: fast passages, intricate syncopation.
  • Detailed phrasing & structure; shape long phrases with rubato.
  • Combine expressive dynamics, vibrato & precise bowing techniques.
  • Further refine ensemble sensitivity & leadership.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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