Intermezzo and Scherzo - Cello and PIano

Intermezzo and Scherzo for Piano and Violoncello

Edited by Ernst-Gunter Heinemann. Fingering of the piano part by Eckart Sellheim. With supplementary violoncello part marked by Jeffrey Solow.

In this urtext edition, the Intermezzo, previously unpublished, is full of bravado, with a fortissimo marcato theme in the cello and leaping chords in the piano that give way to a bubbling middle section before returning to the initial theme, with much of the cello work taking place on the A string.

The Scherzo is charming, hinting at the impressionist composer Debussy would become. The piece may have originally been titled Nocturne and Scherzo, or may have been part of a larger work, but it is only in one movement. It is marked Allegretto and is full of the Mazurka rhythm.

Either of these brief works would make a lovely concert opener or encore.