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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Cowboy

by Ailbhe McDonagh

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
2019
Duration
1'13''
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes (in It's a Cello Thing, Book 1)
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About this piece

Cowboy is a short piece for cello and piano (about 1:13) by the Irish cellist and composer Ailbhe McDonagh, written in 2019 and published in It's a Cello Thing, Book 1 (Boosey & Hawkes, 2021). McDonagh suggests it for teaching swung rhythm. The composer puts it at around Grade 1.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Technical focus

  • Rhythm

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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