Half a dozen or a dozen

Since the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra or the Philharmonic Cellists of Cologne began stirring up concert life with innovative programs as institutionalized ensembles in the 1970s, numerous original compositions and arrangements for large and small cello ensembles have been created. From Chopin's Revolutionary etude to Mussorgsky's Pictures of an exhibition spectacular adaptations exist, and it is probably only a matter of time before Wagner's Ring a complete version for cello orchestra will be performed.

Now Korbinian Bubenzer, cellist with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, has published two of his own arrangements with the Swiss publisher Edition Kunzelmann. The number for 6 violoncellos The swan from Camille Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the animals can also be mastered by amateur players. The first part corresponds to the original solo part, the accompaniment is divided between 5 cellos, whereby the second and fourth parts require mastery of the thumb position and the third contains artificial harmonics. The accompanying ensemble can also be larger.

More ambitious is the arrangement for 12 violoncellos of the finale from the tone poem Don Quixote op. 35 by Richard Strauss. Here, too, the solo cello part has remained unchanged. The large orchestration does full justice to the lush sound of the original and will not fail to have an effect on the audience.

Camille Saint-Saëns: Le Cygne (The Swan), arranged for 6 violoncellos by Korbinian Bubenzer, score, GM-1959, Fr. 15.00, Edition Kunzelmann, Adliswil

Richard Strauss: Finale from Don Quixote, for 12 violoncellos, GM-1960, Fr. 22.60