Nitty Music performs Rigadoon by Henry Purcell from Book 01 of the Suzuki Cello Method.
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Cellos by Luthiers Clar: https://www.luthiersclar.com/
Piano accompaniment by Ms. Accompanist: https://msaccompanist.bandcamp.com/
‘Rigadoon’ by Henry Purcell is a musical piece for cello that stands out for its clear and obvious structure, which is divided into three sections and features a repetition of the first section as the fourth.
This piece is the second of the three cello pieces that are not included in the violin books, making it an interesting challenge for students looking to expand their repertoire.
Additionally, in ‘Rigadoon’ there is a novel concept that students have not yet encountered in previous pieces, and it refers to the use of the second finger.
In this piece, the second finger is only used on the A string instead of the third finger, and on the D string, only the third finger is used.
Although this is clear and understandable for students, the use of the second finger can cause some errors while they adapt to the new technique.
Another challenge in this piece is the bow movement, as it includes bow circles ‘Aviones’ at the end of most phrases, requiring precise bow technique and coordination.
Additionally, there are alternate movements in the two central sections of the piece, adding an additional level of complexity.
A new challenge in terms of bow movement is found in the second measure, where the student must play a dotted minim followed by a crotchet.
It is necessary to keep the bow for the dotted minim and aim to return to the frog on the quaver to avoid the bow travelling too far, which can affect the quality of the sound.
Therefore, it is important for the student to focus on conserving the bow to achieve a clean and clear sound in this piece.
Additionally, it is important to note that there are two different endings for each of the sections, and the student must be familiar with how the piece sounds to be able to memorize it quickly.
In conclusion, ‘Rigadoon’ is a musical piece that can take longer to learn than previous pieces due to the new or altered ideas and techniques presented.
According to the Suzuki philosophy, the student will advance at their own pace and gradually master the necessary techniques to perform this piece, allowing them to continue advancing in their musical education and their ability to play the cello.