Position Pieces for Cello, Book 1
by Rick Mooney
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Cello
- Composed
- 1997
- Publisher
- Summy-Birchard Music / Alfred Music (00-0762; ISBN 978-0-87487-762-5), 64 pp.
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About this piece
Rick Mooney's book for learning the cello's lower positions one at a time: upper and lower second position, extended second and third positions, upper and lower third position, fourth position and half position, followed by pieces that use several positions. Each position opens with exercises called 'Target Practice', 'Geography Quiz' and 'Names and Numbers', which show how to find the position and which notes lie under the hand. These are followed by cello duets written so that the student has to play in that position, with titles such as 'I Was a Teenage Monster', 'The Irish Tenor' and 'I Got the Blues, Baby'. Mooney (d. 2023) was an American cellist and Suzuki teacher; Book 2 continues with fifth, sixth and seventh positions, leading to his Thumb Position for Cello books.
Technical overview
Duets for two cellos. The first part stays in the position being studied, with fingerings marked, while the second part accompanies with pizzicato, chords with open strings and natural harmonics, so a teacher or more advanced student can play along. Keys include D, F and G major; the music uses slurs of up to four notes, string crossings, and dynamics from p to f with hairpins, and the final section moves between positions.
Technical focus
- 4 Note Slurs
- Double Stops
- Dynamics
- Ensemble Skills
- Extensions
- Hairpin Dynamics
- Half Position
- Harmonics
- Pizzicato
- Shifting
- String Crossings