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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Shifting Sands

by Ailbhe McDonagh

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
2018
Duration
0'48''
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes (in It's a Cello Thing, Book 1)
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About this piece

Shifting Sands is a short piece for cello and piano (48 seconds) by the Irish cellist and composer Ailbhe McDonagh, written in 2018 and published in It's a Cello Thing, Book 1 (Boosey & Hawkes, 2021). McDonagh suggests it for teaching extensions. The composer puts it at around Grade 1. It is set on the ABRSM cello syllabus.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Technical focus

  • Extensions

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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