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CATALONIA traditional – ‘Song of the Birds’ (El Cant dels ocells) – SOLO CELLO AND CELLO ENSEMBLE (with optional double bass)

Other Identification:
“El cant dels ocells” (“The Song of the Birds” in English), is a traditional Catalan Christmas song and lullaby about nature celebrating the birth of Jesus. The song describes various birds singing joyfully to greet the new baby.
Due to Casals’ strong association with the piece and its Catalan roots, the song is widely recognized as a symbol of Catalan culture and resistance, especially during the Franco dictatorship when Casals played it. It was popularized internationally by Pau Casals, who played it at all his concerts after 1939.

Movements or sections:
Song

Instrumentation:
SOLO CELLO AND CELLO ENSEMBLE IN FIVE VOICES
An optional double bass part is possible, and welcome….
Prepared by David Johnstone

4 PDFs:
1 – Cello Solo (traditional melody)
2 – General Score with Cello ensemble
3 – Cello ensemble individual parts
4 – optional double bass part

Approximate difficulty:
Easy to medium

Do check out as a possible alternative with this music for the soloist:
CATALONIA traditional – Song of the Birds (Johnstone virtuoso version) – SOLO CELLO [only available from “Segno dell’Aquila”]
https://www.cellochaplin.com/buy-published-music

Links (Audio – Visual), and known performances given by:
“Song of the Birds” El Cant dels Ocells, Violoncello Society of New York Cello Choir, Dvoraknyc.org
Violoncello Society of New York Cello Choir: Kate Dillingham, Molly Aronson, Dan Barrett, Nan-Cheng Chen, Dara Hankins, Robert Reed, Mosa Tsay, Josh Weissenborn, with special guest Tomáš Jamník

„Song of the Birds“, arr. David Johnstone Cello solo: Jens Peter Maintz // cellos: Fernando Arias, Alejandro Gómez Pareja, Eva Arderíus, Guillem Gràcia, Francesco Stefanelli

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Personal

David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.

He is interested in world affairs, politics, animal rights, and most sports (including being a lifelong suffering Reading FC fan!). Also passionate about Celtic culture and genealogy, he has traced his ‘English’ family back to 1280, although Scotland and Ireland have also shaped his background. And yes — he is half-ashamed to admit it, he loves silly jokes!

Social Work

David Johnstone supports animal rights, he is against any form of abuse towards them, and says a loud “NO” to bullfighting, foxhunting and any other animal cruelty.

TORTURE IS NOT CULTURE !