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AUSTRALIA traditional – Waltzing Matilda – TWO CELLOS (easy)

Other Identification:
“Waltzing Matilda” is Australia’s best-known bush ballad, and has been even described as the country’s “unofficial national anthem”.

The title was Australian slang for travelling on foot (waltzing) with one’s belongings in a “matilda” (swag) slung over one’s back. The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or “swagman”, making a drink of billy tea at a bush camp and capturing a stray jumbuck (sheep) to eat. When the jumbuck’s owner, a squatter (landowner), and three mounted policemen pursue the swagman for theft, he declares “You’ll never take me alive!” and commits suicide by drowning himself in a nearby billabong (watering hole), after which his ghost haunts the site. The original lyrics were written in 1895 by Australian poet Banjo Paterson, and were first published as sheet music in 1903. Extensive folklore surrounds the song and the process of its creation!

Movements or sections:
Johnstone’s two cello arrangement in G Major, marked ‘Flowing, almost in 2’, should be quite fun for young duos.

Instrumentation: DUO OF TWO CELLOS (EASY)
Arranged by David Johnstone

All the music is contained in 1 PDF.

Approximate difficulty: EASY
The first part ventures up to 4th position though no uncomfortable jumps are required, whilst the second cello sits comfortably in first position with no extensions required. Both parts have melodic importance.

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