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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Berceuse (from Dolly, Op. 56)

by Gabriel Fauré · arranged by William Bruce and Tim Wells

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
1893
Publisher
ABRSM (More Time Pieces for Cello, Volume 1; ISBN 9781848491625)
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About this piece

Berceuse is the opening piece of Dolly, the suite for piano duet that Fauré wrote for Hélène ('Dolly') Bardac; it began as a present for her first birthday in 1893. William Bruce and Tim Wells arranged it for cello and piano in ABRSM's More Time Pieces for Cello, Volume 1, and ABRSM sets it for Grade 1 cello from 2024. It is a gentle rocking lullaby, a short lyrical slow piece for a beginner, by a composer who later worked through serious hearing loss.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Beginner

Left Hand

  • 1st position on all strings with fingers 1–4.
  • Understand whole/half steps
  • No shifting; notes stay in 1st position.
  • Focus on accurate finger placement.

Right Hand

  • Consistent détaché for simple melodies.
  • Extend bow (mid‑bow) on a straight path.
  • Introduce short (2–3 note) slurs.
  • Begin basic string crossings; occasional open‑string double stops.

Bow Strokes

  • Détaché and on‑string staccato.
  • Introduce simple legato (short slurs) and bow retakes.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Simple rhythms with basic subdivisions.
  • Short phrases; limited dynamic contrasts; echo dynamics.
  • Develop a singing, accurate tone.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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