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Cello Repertoire Initiative

The Stones Are Very Hard (from 24 Negro Melodies, Op. 59 No. 2)

by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor · arranged by Samuel Araya

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Publisher
Samuel Araya (self-published on IMSLP, 2021)
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About this piece

Samuel Araya's cello-and-piano arrangement of 'The Stones are Very Hard', the second piece in Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's 24 Negro Melodies, Op. 59, his 1905 set of piano transcriptions of African and African American melodies, published with a preface by Booker T. Washington.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Late Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Master positions up to 7th.
  • Use 5th–7th positions for high notes; early thumb position basics.
  • Learn treble clef for 4th, 5th, 6th positions.
  • Practice complex shifting with guide‑finger techniques.
  • Manage upper extensions; play double stops (thirds, fourths, sixths) with consistency.
  • Use continuous, selectively applied vibrato.

Right Hand

  • Develop advanced bow strokes: deliberate ricochet & controlled up‑bow staccato.
  • Execute quick string crossings & precise chord articulations.
  • Achieve wide dynamic range while maintaining tone.
  • Seamless transitions between spiccato and legato.
  • Execute multiple stops/chord rolls rapidly.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Increased complexity: fast passages, intricate syncopation.
  • Detailed phrasing & structure; shape long phrases with rubato.
  • Combine expressive dynamics, vibrato & precise bowing techniques.
  • Further refine ensemble sensitivity & leadership.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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