Breval Cello Concerto No 2 for Cello and Piano

Bréval: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major for Cello and Piano

Bréval's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major is one of the most useful pieces in the cello teaching repertoire: a three-movement Classical concerto that covers a wide range of technical and musical ground at Grade 7, and that prepares a student thoroughly for the larger Romantic concertos that come next. This edition presents the solo part in a freshly prepared text with a piano reduction of the original orchestral accompaniment.

Like the Seitz concertos for violin, the Bréval works because it integrates technique and music-making rather than treating them separately. The left-hand work covers the ground a Grade 7 cellist needs to consolidate: scales and arpeggios across different positions, shifts, and passages that require clean articulation at moderate tempi. The bow arm is asked for a range of stroke types: sustained legato, clearly articulated détaché, and the light, dancing bowing that characterises Classical period style. Working through all three movements gives a student a genuinely comprehensive technical and musical workout, but always in the service of melodies that have real grace and shape. At twelve minutes it is a substantial undertaking at this level, and a student who performs it well will have demonstrated the kind of complete musicianship that opens the door to the Haydn, Schumann, and Dvořák concertos.

The piano reduction provides a clear, supportive accompaniment that represents the orchestral original faithfully, and the freshly prepared solo text gives both performers and teachers a score that is straightforward to read and work from.

At twelve minutes across three movements, this is a proper concerto that gives a student the experience of sustaining a large-scale musical structure from start to finish. That in itself is a significant part of what the piece teaches.

See and hear the difference

Check the score and part preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Cello + Piano (piano reduction of the original orchestral accompaniment)
• Editor: Paul Wood
• Difficulty: ABRSM Grade 7 (solo)
• Duration: approximately 12 minutes
• Technical focus: bow stroke variety, scales and arpeggios, position work, Classical style
• Format: PDF download, full score and cello part

Who it's for

This is a strong choice for Grade 7 cellists who are ready for their first full concerto experience, and for teachers looking for repertoire that consolidates the technical and musical foundations needed before moving on to the larger Romantic concertos. It works well in student recitals and examination programmes where a complete, well-structured Classical concerto is needed at an accessible level.