Songs for young cellists

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 bpmclimb 12 Jul 2021

I'm after some ideas for songs which would sound cool arranged for an orchestra of teenage cellists. Ages 11-16, ABRSM Grades 4-7 approx. Ideally, songs they may already know, and there will be no singing, so there will have to be sufficient interest in the melody/harmony/rhythm.

Thanks

 Welsh Kate 12 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

The arrangement would be complex, but how about Bohemian Rhapsody? 

 planetmarshall 12 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

Will prod my partner, she plays Cello for the BBC Phil.

 Welsh Kate 12 Jul 2021
In reply to planetmarshall:

Ha! I've just prodded my sister, she's LSO :-D 

 planetmarshall 12 Jul 2021
In reply to Welsh Kate:

> Ha! I've just prodded my sister, she's LSO :-D 

I hope you get more sensible answers. So far I've been given "Master of Puppets".

 RobAJones 12 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

One day like this, Elbow is one Mrs J has done with similar kids. Her group was a mixture of volins/cellos but she says it could be done with just cellos. 

 Andy Hardy 12 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

I've seen a video of  Thunderstruck done with 2 cellos. Could easily accommodate more! 

On a similar (classic metal) track, Kashmir might work.

Problem is kids these days won't know the original versions 😉

 Jamie Wakeham 12 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

Presume you've already found the works of Apocalyptica?

Master of Puppets is probably a bit tricky, but I wonder if an arrangement of Nothing Else Matters might work well?  Nice range of parts, from quite easy to really quite tricky!

 Welsh Kate 12 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

The cellist sister has asked a cellist friend and the suggestions are:

Yesterday
Hard Day's Night
When I'm 64
Sing
Spread a little happiness

Though guess it depends if teenagers these days know the Beatles and others?

 planetmarshall 12 Jul 2021
In reply to Welsh Kate:

Beatles seems a popular suggestion. In addition to some thrash metal epics I've had

  • Here Comes the Sun
  • Let it Go (from Frozen)
 Blue Straggler 13 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

Check out Samara Ginsberg’s YouTube channel. Mostly film and TV themes but I think there might be some songs on there. Arranged for multiple cello. 

 plyometrics 13 Jul 2021
In reply to Andy Hardy:

Doesn’t get much better than this. Absolutely brilliant!

youtube.com/watch?v=uT3SBzmDxGk&

Suspect their channel has some great examples for the OP. 

 Andy Hardy 13 Jul 2021
In reply to plyometrics:

That's the badger.

OP bpmclimb 14 Jul 2021
In reply to Welsh Kate:

> The arrangement would be complex, but how about Bohemian Rhapsody? 


I think I might do that - quite long but definitely enough variety to work without words. And everybody knows the song.

The other definite on my list is Eleanor Rigby.

Might try Coldplay's Fix You

cb294 14 Jul 2021
In reply to bpmclimb:

Listen to the first album by Apocalyptica. It is for four cellos originally, but could certainly be adapted.^

CB

In reply to plyometrics:

> Doesn’t get much better than this. Absolutely brilliant!

Agreed. The editing is brilliant too. There must be something like 70 or 80 different shots there, but it's so well cut that probably the average viewer only notices about 10 to a dozen of the actual cuts.


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