Since its premiere in 1873 this work has held an important place in the violoncello repertoire. It is on the one hand a short charming composition; on the other hand, equally important, is its use in instruction during the first few years of playing. Central here are the articulation of the opening theme and its various repetitions juxtaposed with lyrical passages calling for legato playing.

Christine Baur’s new scholarly-critical edition is based on a thorough examination of all the sources,...