Skip to content

Cello Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 17

by Agnes Zimmermann

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
1872
Publisher
Edition Silvertrust (modern edition); originally published 1872
More by this composer

Purchase or download

About this piece

A four-movement sonata from 1872 by the London-based pianist-composer Agnes Zimmermann: an Allegro moderato, an Intermezzo (Allegretto scherzando) that opens with a pizzicato theme low in the cello, a Menuetto marked Allegretto cantabile that is closer to a flowing song than a minuet, and a dramatic Allegro vivace finale. Long out of print, it was reissued by Edition Silvertrust with the original piano part and a newly edited cello part by cellist Marie-Aline Cadieux.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Professional

Left Hand

  • Complete command of the fingerboard.
  • Proficient thumb position across all strings.
  • Execute complex double stops and rapid trills precisely.
  • Fast scales and leaps with precise intonation and speed.
  • Apply expressive techniques (portamenti, micro‑adjusted intonation) tastefully.
  • Easily execute false harmonics.

Right Hand

  • Seamlessly blends martelé, spiccato, sautillé, legato & ricochet.
  • Meticulous bow distribution for sustained lines or rapid passages.
  • Clear pianissimo to controlled fortissimo.
  • Economical, efficient bow movement with smooth transitions.
  • Employ advanced effects (ponticello, bow effects) artistically.

Musicality

  • Focus on a deeply personal, communicative performance.
  • Make interpretive choices reflecting deep understanding of form, style & emotion.
  • Convey nuanced phrasing, wide dynamic range & a unique artistic voice.
  • Craft dramatic cadenzas/solos with rubato, tone & expressive timing.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.