What are some of people's favourite pieces either for solo cello, or perhaps where the whole cello section gets a great tune in an orchestral work?

I love one of the cello tunes in Brahms' second symphony. You know, the one that goes "Dee da da da da da da da, Dee da da daa de da da dum, da daaaa etc."

QUOTE (zoda @ Oct 18 2004, 04:04 PM)

[...]I love one of the cello tunes in Brahms' second symphony.  You know,  the one that goes "Dee da da da da da da da,   Dee da da daa de da da dum,  da daaaa etc."

I expect I do, but not from your description. How about some note names?

the melody transcribed to G major starts bcdbagf#e abcf#.gf#ed - still no rhythmn I'm afraid!

You're a widely listened fellow, Kenm, share with us a few of your favourites!

David

QUOTE (zoda @ Oct 18 2004, 10:37 PM)

the melody transcribed to G major starts bcdbagf#e  abcf#.gf#ed - still no rhythmn I'm afraid! You're a widely listened fellow,  Kenm,  share with us a few of your favourites! David

I found it. Your ear is pretty good. It is in B major, and is part of the 12 bar 'cello tune that starts the second movement. The actual notes of the chunk that you quote are:

D# E F#D# C# | B A# G# C# D# E C# B | A#G# F# B f# + + b | g# etc. in even quavers except that the note with plus signs is a dotted crotchet. | is the bar line.

The second and fourth symphonies are my favourites, not just because of the 'cello tunes (I mostly play them on bass nowadays) but the fourth has indeed got a great slow movement tune for the 'cellos: at rehearsal letter C in movement 2, in a slowish 6/8, the 'cellos have mostly even quavers, crotchets indicated by one +, dotted crotchets as above:

B C# D# E D# C# | B G# A# F# + + | D# C# B F# E# D# | C# G# B A# + F# | etc. (2nd violins take over)

For something more lively (the extract below goes at about 100 beats[ = 50 bars] to the minute), 'cellos, with 1st horn helping, introduce the second subject of the last movement of the third symphony (again at letter C), in triplet crotchets, - means a rest and + now means a tie into the next bar:

G - G C E D | G - G C g E | D C B D+ | D C B C B A | G

The third symphony has the 'cellos starting its third movement, with another lovely tune that has too complicated a rhythm to give here.

My favourite Brahms work for 'cello is the second sonata. I have the EMI recording of Du Pré and Barenboim playing this and strongly recommend it. The first movement, in particular, has a dramatic, larger-than-life character that they capture brilliantly. It is coupled with the first sonata, another of my favourites, that has the merit of being much easier than the first, well within the technical capabilities of good amateurs.

Of the concertos, I prefer the Dvorak to the Elgar, not only because it has suffered less from over-exposure. However, I was playing bass in a performance of the Elgar recently, and was reminded of his mastery of the art of orchestration. The bass part is very sparse, but one has the feeling that every note matters.

For a more modern work with 'cellos introducing a new tune, look at the last movement of Tippett's "Concerto for Double String Orchestra", one of the great works commissioned by the late Paul Sacher for his Basel Chamber Orchestra.

I knew you wouldn't let me down, Kenm!

Thanks for your suggestions - sorry it took so long to respond - my laptop packed up shortly after getting broadband, and I've only just got back online.

I shall dip into your suggestions from time to time - I have Rostropovich and the Berlin Phil playing the Dvorak, but haven't got round to listening to it. But the one I really want to hear now is Brahms 4!

Added edit: slightly off the topic, but does anyone (eg you Kenm, since you are often good enough to read my lame posts!) share my love of the orchestral "poco piu vivo" 4 bars before letter D in the Bruch G minor violin concerto 1st movt. Although I have Anne Sophie Mutter playing this, and she is wonderful, these 34 bars have become my favourite part of the whole piece, even though she's not playing! This music burns with the best Beethoven symphonies, even though it's scored for a concerto orchestra with no trombones.

David