Rieding Cello Concerto in B Minor Op. 35 for Cello and String Orchestra

Rieding's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 35 is the composer's own adaptation of his well-known violin concerto: the same key, the same drama, but reshaped for the cello with more demanding position work up the A string and passagework that sits naturally under the hand. This edition presents the work for solo cello and string orchestra, giving an advancing cellist the experience of a proper Romantic concerto without the demands of the mainstream repertoire.

At around ABRSM Grade 6, the solo writing asks for frequent position changes up the A string, cantabile tone in the higher positions, and confident projection over the ensemble. Because this is Rieding's own adaptation rather than a simple transcription, the figurations and octave placement have been properly reshaped for the instrument, which makes it noticeably more demanding than the violin original while still sitting naturally under the hand. The passagework consolidates shifting security and left-hand agility, and the lyrical writing gives real scope to develop expressive vibrato and sustained singing tone.

The orchestral parts provide a clear, supportive framework that gives the soloist space to lead throughout.

At nine minutes, it works well as a complete concerto project: long enough to be a substantial performance piece, focused enough to be prepared thoroughly over a normal lesson period. For a teacher, it sits usefully between the shorter student concertos and the major Romantic works, building the technical foundation that more demanding repertoire will need.

See and hear the difference

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 and String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 6 (solo); more demanding than the violin version
• Duration: approximately 9 minutes
• Style focus: position changes up the A string, shifting security, cantabile tone, expressive vibrato
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts
• No performance licence required for concerts, recordings, or streaming

Who it's for

Suits an advancing cellist at Grade 6 who is ready for a proper Romantic concerto and needs to consolidate shifting security and upper-register tone production. Works well for youth and school orchestra concerts with a confident young soloist, conservatoire preparation, and as bridging repertoire between the shorter student concertos and the major Romantic works.