Bags of Folk for Cello
by Mary Cohen
- Instrumentation
- Cello
- Composed
- 2008
- Publisher
- Faber Music (distributed in the US by Alfred, 12-0571531156); ISBN 9780571531158
Purchase or download
About this piece
Bags of Folk is a collection of traditional tunes for solo cello arranged by the British string teacher Mary Cohen, part of Faber Music's 'Bags of' series. The pieces get gradually harder and are built around the first two finger patterns, for cellists at about Grade 1–2. Tunes come from Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland and America and include John Ryan's Polka, The Water Is Wide, All Through the Night, Roaring Jelly and Sailor's Hornpipe. It works alongside any method as extra repertoire or sight-reading.
Technical overview
First position on the G, D and A strings in G, D and C major, using the first two finger patterns, with F natural and F sharp both used in Sailor's Hornpipe. Rhythms include dotted crotchet-quaver figures, running quavers, and pieces in 4/4, 3/2 and 6/8. Bowing uses two-note slurs, a hooked slur-and-dot figure in Roaring Jelly, accents, and first- and second-time endings.
Technical focus
- G String Notes
- D String Notes
- A String Notes
- Accidentals
- Dotted Rhythms
- 2 Note Slurs
- Hooked Bowings
- Rhythm