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Cello Repertoire Initiative

The Banshee

by Jennie Rhodes

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Duration
3'15''
Publisher
Jennie Rhodes Music
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About this piece

A cello and piano piece depicting the banshee of Irish folklore, whose 'wails' are written as slides centred on the octave harmonic. The first theme is derived from the medieval Dies Irae chant and the second is an adapted Irish reel, played slowly at first and then fast. It was commissioned for 7 City Strings studio in Queen Creek, Arizona, featured at the 2025 ASTA New Music Reading Sessions, and is on the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Fluent in positions 1–4 with confident shifts & reliable intonation.
  • Introduce 5th position via scales/études.
  • Learn tenor clef for higher passages.
  • Early exposure to thumb position basics.
  • Refine combined shifting & extensions.
  • Advance double stops (two‑note chords).
  • Refine vibrato for expressive shaping.

Right Hand

  • High control over multiple bow strokes.
  • Advanced spiccato for fast passages; reliable sautillé.
  • Apply martelé at frog and mid‑bow.
  • Execute rapid string crossings with minimal arm movement.
  • Adjust contact point to modulate tone.
  • Introduce complex bow patterns & chord rolling.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Faster tempos & varied meter challenges.
  • Tackle compound meters, intricate ornaments & syncopation.
  • Deepen expressive phrasing; analyze piece structure.
  • Clear dynamic contrasts; introduce slight rubato.
  • Enhance ensemble sensitivity.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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