Autumnal Music

Barbara Heller’s duet 'Herbstmusik' [Autumnal Music] for cello and piano is a short piece of 5-6 minutes' duration which is as vibrant and colourful as the season itself and a welcome addition to the repertoire for this combination of instruments. Graded at intermediate level, it is also a suitable extension to the contemporary repertoire for advanced young cellists and for playing in youth music competitions (age range 11-16). This piece only requires players to use the first four positions plus harmonics. Fingerings and bowings were added in collaboration with the cellist Katharina Deserno from Cologne. An improvised solo cello cadenza may be added, starting from the Bb with fermata in bar 88. This might draw on the musical material in the preceding bars 85-88, possibly making use of motifs and playing techniques already featured in the piece, such as 'col legno' or 'pizzicato' – but no limits should be placed upon the performer’s imagination.