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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Ferdinand II

by Elaine Fine

Instrumentation
Cello
Composed
2020
Duration
6'
Publisher
Elaine Fine (self-published on IMSLP, 2020)
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About this piece

A companion to Elaine Fine's 'Ferdinand' for solo cello: a set of musical illustrations of Munro Leaf's story of Ferdinand the bull. Fine wrote it for euphonium or cello, and wrote her own descriptions of the action into the music rather than quoting the book. It lasts about six minutes.

Technical overview

An unaccompanied narrative piece of about six minutes, written for euphonium or cello.

Level rubric

Advanced

Left Hand

  • Unrestricted fingerboard operation.
  • Effortless high‑register passages with thumb position.
  • Execute large leaps, rapid shifts & fast runs with precise intonation.
  • Render double stops with clarity and even vibrato.
  • Crisp, stylistically appropriate ornamentation (trills, turns, mordents).
  • Instinctive micro‑adjustments in intonation for expressiveness.
  • False harmonics in low positions

Right Hand

  • Complete command of all bow strokes at any tempo/dynamic.
  • Comfortable execution of virtuoso passages (sautillé, intricate ricochet).
  • Tone projection from whisper‑quiet to fortissimo.
  • Integrate advanced bow patterns with expressive phrasing.
  • Demonstrate technical precision with a broad dynamic range.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Interpret large‑scale structures with nuanced pacing and rhythmic freedom.
  • Highly refined phrasing with subtle note grouping & expressive rubato.
  • Convey emotional depth and stylistic authenticity.
  • Incorporate personal interpretive choices while meeting stylistic demands.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

Music

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