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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Cinqué Song

by Adolphus Hailstork

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Duration
4'30''
Publisher
Theodore Presser Company (114-42484)
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About this piece

Cinqué Song (about 4½ minutes) portrays Joseph Cinqué, who led the 1839 Amistad mutiny. It opens with a bold two-minute unaccompanied soliloquy for the cello, which Hailstork says was inspired by chants on board the ship and by knocking on wood. The rest of the piece, with piano, celebrates the Supreme Court's 1841 ruling that the enslaved Africans had the right to defend their freedom. It was written for cellist Daphine Henderson and is also published for double bass.

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.

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