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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Melody for Cello and Piano

by Liana Alexandra

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
1999
Duration
3'
Publisher
Nuova musica consonante / Liana Alexandra Estate (free on IMSLP)
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About this piece

A three-minute piece for cello and piano, dated 25 August 1999 and written as a birthday present for Alexandra's husband, the cellist Serban Nichifor. IMSLP pairs it with Conceptofonia, a cello-and-piano piece Nichifor wrote for her birthday in 2000. The composer also made versions for cello and harp and for violin or viola and piano. Several performances by Nichifor are on YouTube, and the score is free on IMSLP from her estate.

Technical overview

A slow, lyrical melody in 3/4, 64 bars long, over a rocking piano accompaniment. The cello sings long tied and slurred notes high in bass clef and in treble clef, so it needs secure shifts into and out of the upper register and early thumb position for sustained high notes.

Technical focus

  • Thumb Position
  • Shifting
  • Treble Clef
  • Sustain
  • Slurs

Level rubric

Early Advanced

Left Hand

  • Fully integrated thumb position; scales/arpeggios on A & D strings.
  • Smooth shifts into/out of thumb position for sustained high notes.
  • Frequent advanced double stops with rapid, coordinated shifts.
  • Accurate ornamentation (trills, turns, grace notes), even in double stops.
  • Expressively adjust intonation for chord balance.
  • Handle fast runs and large leaps precisely.
  • Introduction to false harmonics.

Right Hand

  • Virtuoso bow strokes: controlled up/down‑bow staccato, deliberate ricochet & well‑shaped sautillé.
  • Wide tone palette via precise bow adjustments.
  • Explore advanced effects (col legno, sul ponticello) as needed.
  • Capable of both powerful fortissimo and delicate soft notes.
  • Rapid switching among strokes in cadenzas/virtuosic passages.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Apply rhythmic freedom & rubato to shape movements and cadenzas.
  • Personal interpretation with nuanced phrasing & subtle dynamics.
  • Mature tone and phrasing for solo and ensemble settings.
  • Demonstrate advanced ensemble leadership with visual cues.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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