If you’re like me you’ll be eager to get started on a new party piece for those end of year events!
This week I have completed a new solo cello arrangement of Marriage d’Amour by Paul de Senneville. I am sure you will enjoy playing it. It is passionate and as one of my patrons said, “a strong swirling dance of life”
If you would like to support me in making more music do have a look. When I make an arrangement you will be the first to receive it, and are encouraged to give suggestions about what pieces you would like arranged. I find this platform a good way for me to interact with fellow cellists who enjoy my music.
Video of Marriage d’Amour, as usual made in front of my famous Narnia cupboard… from inside it, inspiration flows.
I have made a profile on the Patreon site and I am hoping to get people to support me. I have nearly 5000 YouTube subscribers, and to these people, especially you who comment, thank you for constantly inspiring me to make more arrangements. As long as I know someone is loving them and getting to play them on their cellos, I am happy. All I need is a small amount of people to pay $1 a solo cello video release and I can continue composing and arranging and making it all available.
I love what I do. If you love what I do, it’s only a tiny amount, but it adds up to support me as a self employed cellist.
So on the video topic, I have just published my first arrangement for solo cello for the year. I have been working on a couple more but this is the first one completed. It’s a relief to actually get a video up, get the sheet music onto Play Cello Music and get out of the sludgy start of 2017. I have so many projects I am juggling so I can to set up my year, and I am constantly wishing I could just get that cello out to work on new material in among the piles of admin, tour planning, websites, organising events for the Midleton Arts Festival, even making a T-shirt site Festival Clothing, (check out the Midleton Festival logo, very cool!), making new arrangements for the Cork Light Orchestra…and all the rest. I love doing everything I do but it is easy to be distracted by it all and dragged away from where I love to be;
Cello in hand;
Ideas swirling around;
Harmonies unfolding;
Finding the perfect key and key change;
Discovering new ways to make the solo cello sound like a full orchestra;
Unlocking the puzzle of a simple melody…
Anyway, have a listen to the newest arrangement and watch the video!
If you didn’t notice it the first time, thank you for noticing and visiting NOW! My Patreon Site
I am pleased to announce the release of my new cello book, Trad on Cello. There are twenty Irish traditional tunes including polkas, slides, jigs, reels, hornpipes and slip jigs, with a guide on how to play them.
I have enjoyed choosing great tunes that fit together in sets so that when you turn up for a session, you are fully equipped to dive straight in and feel good about your playing! It was a challenge to find the perfect keys for the cello for tunes that sit in first position only so there is no running up and down the fingerboard. It makes them really fun to play whatever grade. The second cello parts are also great for playing as a duo, and the chords are included so the tunes can be played with anyone who can read chords. They sound amazing with a group of cellists too, as my friend said “like a big lumbering beast” (I hope that’s good!)
The introduction and chapter information is detailed and interesting for anyone who wants to have a little more guidance and get a brief background info on the tunes.
For teachers looking for something a little different to inspire students post exams, these are a perfect antidote to the earnestness of exam preparations.
I made a video of one of the reels to give an idea of what is in store for you and I hope to see other videos from cellists playing these tunes too!
Eleven Christmas Carols and Songs from around the world arranged especially for solo cello.
This Christmas music comes from all over the world. American, Irish, Brazilian, German, English and Welsh songs. The origins of some of the older carols is unknown as they have been around so long. There are enough technical challenges to keep it interesting but easy enough for you to get the music up to a performance standard by Christmas.
Contents:
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
White Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy
Deck the Hall
Winter Wonderland
Walking in the Air
Natal Das Criancas
Christmas Medley: Let it Snow, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells
In Dulci Jubilo
Wexford Carol
Oiche Nollag
Spread some Christmas cheer with these pieces and don’t be surprised if everyone sings along.
I have had a great response to the music and performed some in the beautiful lounge at Sheen Falls Lodge last evening.
I am recording them this week and the recordings will be available for download soon too.
I was asked to transcribe Nacht und Traume by Schubert for cello, as played by Stjepan Hauser. I have put in his bowings and fingerings, all played on the D string. You can look at/download pdf here to play. Nacht und Traume and watch him play it. Try playing along… lookout for that heavy breathing!!
Here is sheet music I just found of irish Washerwoman for cello. My grandad taught me this when I was a kid. Slightly different version….mine to be posted later…
