Cello excerpt
Copland, Appalachian Spring (Suite for orchestra)
Variations on "Simple Gifts" (cellos)
The cellos take the second variation of the Shaker hymn, pure American optimism.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Aaron Copland
- Work
- Appalachian Spring (Suite for orchestra)
- Movement
- Variations on "Simple Gifts" (cellos)
- Era
- Modern (c. 1910–1950)
- Composed
- 1944
- Key
- A
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Doppio movimento · ♩ ≈ 96
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Comfortable, community and youth orchestra
- Audition list
- Not a standard excerpt
How to practise it
The bow style, the trouble spots, and the stylistic decisions that come up most often on this excerpt.
Style
Open, plain, unsentimental, the American Shaker aesthetic.
Tags
Work on the technique underneath
Arco's cello curriculum builds the bow strokes, positions, and clef reading this excerpt assumes, with recorded cello playback throughout.