A Musical Odyssey for Cello & Piano, Book 2
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Publisher
- Barbara Arens (self-published via ArrangeMe / Sheet Music Direct); cello part and piano score sold separately
Purchase or download
About this piece
A Musical Odyssey Book 2 is a second set of 10 original pieces for cello and piano by the Germany-based composer and teacher Barbara Arens, aimed at Suzuki levels 4-6. As in Book 1, the American cellist Wendy Velasco chose the pieces from Arens's cello music and wrote preparatory exercises for each. The pieces are Salamanca, Baker Street Blues, Carnival, Folies d'Espagne, Kalinka Rhapsody, Rondo alla Tarantella, Ostinato in the Key of Jazz, Twilight Tango, We Gotta Boogie! and Variations, which the composer calls her personal favourite. 'Ostinato in the Key of Jazz' is set for Trinity Grade 5. A duet edition of Books 1 and 2 for two cellos also exists.
Technical overview
Book 2 moves beyond the first four positions. According to the publisher, it works on fast string crossings, tenor and treble clefs, thumb position, big chords and asymmetrical rhythms, and three jazz pieces develop a feel for swung eighth notes.