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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Castilian (from A Collection of New Cotillons)

by Francis Johnson · 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 'Castilian', No. 12 in A Collection of New Cotillons, the set of keyboard dances published in Philadelphia by George Willig in 1818 that first made the bandleader and composer Francis Johnson widely known. Johnson was among the first African American composers to have his music published as sheet music.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Fluent in positions 1–4 with confident shifts & reliable intonation.
  • Introduce 5th position via scales/études.
  • Learn tenor clef for higher passages.
  • Early exposure to thumb position basics.
  • Refine combined shifting & extensions.
  • Advance double stops (two‑note chords).
  • Refine vibrato for expressive shaping.

Right Hand

  • High control over multiple bow strokes.
  • Advanced spiccato for fast passages; reliable sautillé.
  • Apply martelé at frog and mid‑bow.
  • Execute rapid string crossings with minimal arm movement.
  • Adjust contact point to modulate tone.
  • Introduce complex bow patterns & chord rolling.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Faster tempos & varied meter challenges.
  • Tackle compound meters, intricate ornaments & syncopation.
  • Deepen expressive phrasing; analyze piece structure.
  • Clear dynamic contrasts; introduce slight rubato.
  • Enhance ensemble sensitivity.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

Music

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