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Cello Repertoire Initiative

The Pink Dolphin

by Jennie Rhodes

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Duration
2'
Publisher
Jennie Rhodes Music
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About this piece

A two-minute piece about the boto, the pink Amazon river dolphin of Amazonian folklore, said to shape-shift into human form at night. Bow lifts, pizzicato, hemiolas and mixed meters depict the dolphin's playfulness, and the cello edition includes brief passages in tenor and treble clef. It was featured at the 2025 American String Teachers Association New Music Reading Sessions.

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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