GRAHAM WATERHOUSE
Acht Stücke für Cello und Klavier oder zwei Celli
Eight Pieces for Cello and Piano or two Cellos
Edition Breitkopf 8884 Printed in Germany
Preface
Thomas Tunes is a set of eight pieces written between 2009 and 2014 to be played by the composer’s son. Four of them were successfully first performed at the Jugend Musiziert competition. The first piece was the simple Montague’s March; the last was Henry Hornpipe, more advanced, reflecting a degree of the young player’s progress over the years. The pieces may be played as single pieces or as a suite, in no specific order. In Montague’s March, there are hints of steam train noises. The dance forms Gavotte, Tango, March and Hornpipe are introduced with their characteristic time signatures and rhythmic patterns.
The pieces were originally written for cello and piano but there is an equally viable version for two cellos. The solo cello part is identical in both versions. The second cello part is intended to be played by the teacher or a more advanced player, since it is slightly more difficult than the solo cello part. The version for two cellos differs sometimes from the piano version, to make the second cello part more idiomatic.
Here is a summary of the technical points covered in the pieces, with an approximate indication of their difficulty:
Montague’s March: 1st position (Gd. 2)
Percy’s Verses: 1st, 4th positions, col legno battuto (Gd. 3)
Gordon’s Gavotte: 1st, 2nd, 4th positions (Gd. 3)
Molly’s Melody: 1st, 2nd , 3rd, 4th positions, legato playing (Gd. 3)
Jaunty James: 1/2, 1st, 4th positions, extended position, harmonics (Gd. 3)
Spencer’s Secret: 1st, 4th positions (Gd. 3)
Thomas Tango: 1st, 2nd , 3rd, 4th positions, syncopated rhythms (Gd. 4)
Henry Hornpipe: 1st, 2nd, 4th positions, extended position, fast passage work (Gd. 4)
Some of the pieces make occasional use of “extended” techniques. This increases the palette of sounds, thereby enhancing the expressive potential of the player. These include string slapping, tapping or knocking the cello (gently!) as well as col legno battuto and glissando. Explanations, where relevant, are given at the foot of the respective pages. The bowings and fingerings are only suggestions and can be amended at will.
Munich, Spring 2016 Graham Waterhouse
MP3 recordings of the piano versions are available for free downloading at www.breitkopf.com (search for „EB 8884“).
