The Blackwells have also just brought out two new ‘Solo Time’ cello books for more advanced students. Both are delightful and refreshing collections with pieces suitable for Grade 3–6 students.
With a growth in appetite for previously under-represented composers, classical standard repertoire is bound to change and broaden. Solo Time for Cello Book 1 does a great job reflecting that shift and introduces a diverse range of composers to young musicians at an early stage in their musical development. From J.S. Bach to Florence Price, this collection is brimming with unfamiliar repertoire to freshen up the ears and hearts of cello lovers and students.
Most of the pieces stay in first position with a few rare jumps to fourth position, with special emphasis on tone and the lower range of the cello. This is a great book to bring students away from exam pieces and into the world of performance, bringing their musicality in line with their technical level. A musical highlight is a waltz by Amy Beach, ‘Columbine’ from Children's Carnival. It is a charming addition with a light and enticing piano accompaniment and gorgeous cello melody. The second offering is as gorgeous and diverse as the first.
Solo Time for Cello Book 2 introduces students to Robert Dett, the great Afro-British composer Coleridge-Taylor, and Laura Aulin. The Blackwells have also managed to collate lesser-known melodies from well-known composers. A favourite example of mine is ‘Puck’ from Grieg's lyric pieces – a lively and sparky show piece which is bound to go down well with many students.
The selection focuses on composers who write in a natural and cellistic way, for example ‘Jota’ by Manuel de Falla and the Slavonic Dances by Antonín Dvořák. The piano accompaniments are relatively easy and, while some of the arrangements may be a little prosaic, are well balanced overall. Each piece has a short introduction, with useful and engaging information about the composers and style helping students to contextualise the works.
When talking about Solo Time for Cello Book 2, one cannot fail to mention the second piece in the book. ‘A Song for August’ is a triumphant and tender tune by Kathy and David Blackwell, providing us with a glimpse into the musical minds behind the book. Recordings of the pieces played by David Blackwell (piano) and Laura Anstee (cellist) alongside backing tracks are included and can be downloaded with a code.
