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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Lullaby

by Kaija Saariaho

Instrumentation
Cello
Composed
2020
Duration
5'
Publisher
Chester Music (Wise Music Classical)
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About this piece

Lullaby is a five-minute piece for solo cello written in response to the death of the composer Oliver Knussen in summer 2018 and dedicated to his memory. A cradle-song melody is woven together with material from Tarantella, a short cello piece Knussen had written for Saariaho's 50th birthday in 2002. It was premiered by Anssi Karttunen, a friend of both composers.

Technical overview

A short contemporary solo piece contrasting a lullaby melody with quicker material borrowed from Knussen's Tarantella.

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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