Haydn Cello Concerto No. 2 in D for Cello and String Orchestra

Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob. VIIb:2, is the most celebrated cello concerto of the eighteenth century and sits at the core of the instrument's repertoire. This edition folds the two oboe and two horn parts into the string writing, so the concerto works with a solo cello and string orchestra alone.

The first movement, Allegro moderato, has been described as the first of Haydn's concerto movements to use sonata form without qualification: its second solo passage works through the movement's material in a genuine development section rather than simply restating the opening. The central Adagio leans toward the same sonata-form shape, and the closing Allegro is a rondo, the standard choice for a concerto finale at the time. Both outer movements share a structural touch Haydn may have picked up from Boccherini's cello concertos: the soloist enters partway into the movement rather than right at the start.

The solo cello line and the string parts are otherwise exactly as Haydn wrote them, and the redistributed wind material sits naturally within the string texture rather than standing out as a reduction.

At around twenty-five minutes across three movements, this is substantial enough to stand as the concerto item on a programme without needing another major work alongside it. It suits a diploma recital, a concerto competition, or a college or professional orchestra's concert as easily as it does a stand-alone performance.

Check the score and parts 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, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
• Difficulty: Diploma / professional standard
• Duration: approximately 25 minutes (three movements)
• Style focus: Classical-era concerto form: sonata-form first movement, songful Adagio, rondo finale
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

This arrangement suits advanced conservatoire and diploma students preparing recital or exam repertoire, professional and semi-professional cellists looking for a concerto vehicle with string orchestra, and college, chamber, or community orchestras with a strong cello soloist to feature.