This is a list of notable solo cello pieces. It includes arrangements and transcriptions.
A Joseph Abaco 11 Capricci for Violoncello Solo Samuel Adler Sonata (1965) Kalevi Aho Solo IV (1997) Hugh Aitken For the Cello (1980) Franghis Ali-Zadeh Ask Havasi (part of the cycle Silk Road) (1998) Oyan (2005) Maarten Altena Figura (1993) Mark Andre iv 2 pour violoncelle solo (2007)cfr. UPC:8011570338372, 2010 Stradivarius, Frédéric Baldassare Georges Aperghis Sonate (1994) Tanya Anisimova Song on Mt. San Angelo Georgi Arnaoudov Kells (1999) Three Sonets of Michelangelo (2014) Violet Archer Improvisation (1983) Malcolm Arnold Fantasy (1987) Daniel Asia Cello Suite Lera Auerbach Sonata for Solo Violoncello, Op. 72 (2003) La Suite dels Ocells [Homage to Pablo Casals] (2015)
B Johann Sebastian Bach Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012 (c. 1720) Nicolas Bacri Suite, Op. 31 Suite, Op. 50, No. 4 (1994–96; written for Emmanuelle Bertrand) Henk Badings Sonata No. 2 David N. Baker Sonata (1990) Don Banks Sequence (1967) Gennady Banshchikov Concerto for cello No. 3 for solo cello (1965) Granville Bantock Sonata in G minor (1924) Rami Bar-Niv Improvisation Arnold Bax Rhapsodic Ballad (1939) Sally Beamish Gala Water for solo cello (1988)cfr. UPC:7318590011713, 2000 BIS, Robert Irvine The Wise Maid Conrad Beck Epigrams (for Paul Sacher) Grant Beglarian Elegy for Cellist for solo cello (1979) Paul Ben-Haim Music (1974) Richard Rodney Bennett Scena II (1973) Niels Viggo Bentzon Sonata, Op. 110 (1956) Variations on "The Volga Boatmen", Op. 354 (1974) 16 Etudes, Op. 464 (1984) Sonata, Op. 110 Esteban Benzecry Suite "Prisme du Sud" (1970) Gunnar Berg Suite pour violoncelle seul (1950) Michael Berkeley Iberian Notebook Suite (1980) Luciano Berio Les mots sont allés (1978; for Paul Sacher) Sequenza VIb (1981) Chanson pour Pierre Boulez (Song for Pierre Boulez) (2000) Sequenza XIV (2002) Christoph Otto Beyer Sonate für Violoncello solo (2006) Passacaglia e Fuga Gunther Bialas Romanze (for Hoelscher) (1987) Jörg Birkenkötter Solo für Violoncello (1986)cfr. UPC:4028183002471, 2003 Cavalli, Matthias Lorenz Ernest Bloch Suite No. 1 (1956) (written for Zara Nelsova) Suite No. 2 (1956) (written for Zara Nelsova) Suite No. 3 (1957) William Bolcom Suite in C minor (1994) Ennio Bolognini Adagio and Allegro Fiesta Baska - Lamada Montanesa Seranata de Bolonini Seranata del Eco Serenata Del Gaucho Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Purcell Cello's Prayer Nimrod Borenstein "Soliloquy, Op. 59" Sergei Bortkiewicz Suite, Op. 41 Hans Bottermund - Janos Starker Variations on a Theme by Paganini Hendrik Bouman Suite in D major (2003) Reiner Bredemeyer (1929–1995) Solo 1 (1973) Solo 6 (1980; written for H.J. Scheitzbach) Allen Brings Sonata da chiesa for solo cello (1980, dedicated to Alexander Kouguell)cfr. UPC:759348064426, 1997 Capstone, Alexander Kouguell Benjamin Britten Cello Suites (Suite No. 1, Op. 72 (1964), Suite No. 2, Op. 80 (1967), Suite No. 3, Op. 87 (1972)) Tema "Sacher" (for Paul Sacher) Stephen Brown Cello suites Takkakaw Falls (2003, 2004) Fire (2005, revised 2012) There Was a Lady in the East (2007) Lilies and the Roses (2011, revised 2013) Magneto (2012) Flowers of the Forest (2013) Leo Brouwer Sonata (1960) Mikhail Bukinik 4 Concert Etudes (No. 4 in F minor) Sylvano Bussotti Deborah Parker (1987) Variazione Yuri Butzko Partita for solo cello
C John Cage One8 (1991) 59½ Seconds (1953) Atlas Eclipticalis (1961) Solo for Cello (1958) Variations I (1958) Etudes Boreales (1978) Elliott Carter Figment (1994) Figment No. 2, Remembering Mr. Ives (2001) Gaspar Cassadó Suite (1926) Geghuni Chitchjan Sonata for solo cello (1983) Frédéric Chopin Etude in A major, Op. 25, No. 1 (trans. Cassadó) Nigel Clarke Spectroscope (1987) Sonata in D minor for baroque cello or viola da gamba (2009) Aaron D. Clay (b. 1967) 'Still Mirror' and 'Distance Unknown' for solo cello (2021) (written for Jennifer Kloetzel) Dan Coleman (b. 1972) 'afterword' (2020) (written for Jennifer Kloetzel) Michael Colgrass Wolf (1975) Giuseppe Colombi (1635–1694) Chiacona a Basso Solo (1670) Toccata da Violone Solo (Toccata ) (1670) John Corigliano Fancy on a Bach air (1997; premiered by Yo-Yo Ma) Henry Cowell Gravely and Vigorously (Hymn & Fuguing Tune No. 17) (1963; in memory of Kennedy) George Crumb Sonata for Solo Cello, (1955)
D Luigi Dallapiccola Adagio (1947) Ciaccona, Intermezzo e Adagio (1945) Jean-Luc Darbellay Solo (1997) Michael Daugherty Jackie's Song (2000) Johann Nepomuk David 2 Solo Sonatas Mario Davidovsky Synchronisms No. 3 (1964), and electronic sound Robert deMaine Twelve Études-Caprices, Op. 31 (1999) Unaccompanied Sonata Edison Denisov Cadenzas for two cello concertos in D major and C major by Haydn (1982) Patrick van Deurzen Monologue (2011) David Diamond Sonata for Violoncello Alone (1959) Friedhelm Dohl Fantasie - Kadenz Klezmeriana for solo cello (1983) Franco Donatoni Lame (1982) Friedrich Dotzauer 113 Etudes for Cello John Downey Lydian Suite (1975) Zsolt Durkó Solo Suite No. 1 (1979) Henri Dutilleux Trois Strophes sur le Nom de SACHER (1976–82) (for Paul Sacher)
E
David Eby Celtic Passage Gerald Eckert Nôema (1992/93) Søren Nils Eichberg Variations on a theme by Niccolo Paganini (2005) Jose Elizondo Unter dem Sternenhimmel des Rheins (Under the starry sky of the Rhine) (2020) Cantabrigian Reflections (2020) Danzas Latinoamericanas (Latin American Dances) (1997) Otoño en Buenos Aires (Autumn in Buenos Aires) (1997) Pan de Azúcar (Sugar Loaf mountain) (1997) Atardecer Tapatío (Sunset in Guadalajara) (1997) Baroque Dances (1997) La alborada de la esperanza (The Dawn of Hope) (2018) Limoncello (2018) Crepúsculos (Twilights) (2018) Princesa de hadas (Fairy Tale Princess) (1995) Excursión a la montaña (Excursion to the Mountain) (1995) Hans Ulrich Engelmann Mini-music to Siegfried Palm, Op. 38 (1970) Sven Einar Englund Suite (1986) Gottfried von Einem Music, Op. 108 (1996) Iván Erőd Hommage à Beethoven, Op. 24 (Rhapsodie für Violoncello solo über Themen der Sonate, Op. 102/1 von Ludwig van Beethoven) (1977) Rudolf George Escher Sonata for solo Violoncello (1945–48) Pozzi Escot Sonata (2002)
F Morton Feldman Projection I (1950) Intersection IV (1953) Richard Festinger Upon The Viol (2012) Ross Lee Finney Chromatic Fantasy in E (1957) Graciane Finzi Theme and Variations to el cant dels ocells Elena Firsova The Rest is Silence (2002) Luboš Fišer (1935–1999) Sonata (1987) Thomas Flaherty Semi-Suite (1990) Remembrance of Things Present (2006) Alexandra Fol Almost Serial (1999) Carlo Forlivesi Più Mesto for 2-bow solo cello (2003) Wolfgang Fortner Suite (Schott) (for Paul Sacher) Zum Spielen für den 70. Geburtstag: Theme and Variationen (1976) Ilse Fromm-Michaels Suite, Op. 15 (Sikorski) Rudolf Escher Sonata (1955)
G
Domenico Gabrielli Seven Ricercari (1689) Hans Gál Sonata for violoncello solo op.109a (1982) Orlando Jacinto Garcia Crystalline Sounds of the Night Ada Gentile Pervioloncellosolo () (1996) Sarah Gibson (1986-2024) "Carry" for solo cello (2021) (written for Jennifer Kloetzel) Michael Gielen Weitblick Sonata (1991) Alberto Ginastera (1916–83) Puneña No. 2, Op. 45 (Hommage à Paul Sacher) Detlev Glanert Fünf Wüstenlieder (five Desert Songs) (1999) Philip Glass Songs and Poems (in 7 movements) (2007) Orbit (2013) Friedrich Goldmann Cellomusik (1974) Marin Goleminov Sonata (1969) Osvaldo Golijov Omaramor (1991) Andrei Golovin Elegy for solo cello (1988) Yevgeny Golubev 2 Etudes for solo cello, Op. 46 (1961) Concert Aria for solo cello (1961) Leonid Grabovsky (Hrabovsky) Hlas I (1990) Voices for solo cello (1990) Olivier Greif Solo from Nô, Op. 154, for Christoph Henkel (1981) for solo cellocfr. UPC:3760130510165 Anima, Delphine Biron Jorge Grundman Terezin Through the Eyes of the Children for Solo Cello (2012) Sofia Gubaidulina Ten Preludes (1974) Quaternion for solo cello
H Alois Haba Fantasy in quarter-tones (1924) Daron Hagen Suite (1985) Higher, Louder, Faster, an editorial etude (1987) Cristobal Halffter Variations on the theme eSACHERe (for Paul Sacher) Hermann Haller Trois pieces pour violoncelle seul (3 pieces ) George Frideric Handel Air and Variations "The Harmonious Blacksmith" from Suite for Harpsichord in E major, HWV 430 arr. Cassadó Passacaglia - Theme and Variations (arr. Zinoviy Dynov based on the Halvorsen version) John Harbison Suite (1994) Jonathan Harvey Curve with Plateaux for Helen Verney (1983) Teppo Hauta-aho Improvatio (1971) David Philip Hefti Ritus - 4 Dance Collages (2007) Bernhard Heiden Variations on "Lilliburlero" Paavo Heininen Cantilena I, Op. 24c (1970) Cantilena II, Op. 26 (1970) Poesie des pensées, Op. 23 (1970) Hans Werner Henze Serenade (1949) Capriccio (for Paul Sacher) (1976/1981) Philippe Hersant "Sarabande pour violoncelle" (2020) (written for Jennifer Kloetzel) Michael Hersch Sonata No. 1 (1994) Sonata No. 2 (2001) Kenneth Hesketh Die hängende Figur ist Judas (Drei Perspektiven) (1998) IMMH (2014) Jacques Hétu Variations, Op. 11b (1967) Gilad Hochman Rhapsody (2003) Ponderings on a Memory (2005) Jennifer Higdon Suite (2002) Paul Hindemith Sonata, Op. 25, No. 3 (1923) Joel Hoffman Concert-Study (Fantasie) (1977) unaccompanied minor (2007) Robin Hoffmann Schleifers Methoden für Violoncello solo (2005)cfr. UPC:4003913126511 York Höller Sonata (1968) Heinz Holliger Chaconne (for Paul Sacher) (1975) Trema (1981) Vagn Holmboe Solo Cello Sonata, M. 241 (1968–69) Imogen Holst Fall of the Leaf Joaquim Homs Arbres al vent (1992) Soliloqui num. 4 (1994) Capvespre vora el mar (1994) Arthur Honegger Paduana in G major, H.181 (1945) Michael Hoppé and Martin Tillmann Solo Cello Characteristicscfr. UPC:4011540052349 1998 Selected Sound, Martin Tillmann Alan Hovhaness Yakamochi, Op. 193 (1965) Edgar Hovhanessian (Oganesyan) Sonata for solo cello (1970) Klaus Huber Transpositio ad Infinitum für ein virtuoses Solocello (for Paul Sacher) Nicolaus A. Huber Der Ausrufer steigt ins Innere (1984) Tobias Hume Kleine Stücke für Cello solo (Small pieces ) Book 1 (originally for Gamba) (arranged by Sabina Lehrmann) (Cello solo pieces) Book 2 Bertold Hummel Fantasia I in G, Op. 77d1 (1952) Fantasia II in memoriam Pablo Casals, Op. 97a (1993) Farewell (2002)
I
Jacques Ibert Etude-Caprice pour un tombeau de Chopin (1949) Ghirlarzana (1950) Yoshirō Irino (1921–1980) Three Movements (1969) Airat Ichmouratov (1973) Praeludium in G Major for Cello Solo, Op. 69 (2021)
J Karl Jenkins Benedictus - The Armed Man (2001) Jan Jirásek Dilema (1987) Ben Johnston Toccata for Laurien Laufman (1984) Betsy Jolas Scion (1974) Episode cinquième (1983) Andre Jolivet Suite en Concert (1965) Christian Jost Laulos (2005) Gordon Jacob Serenade Divertimento Jurgis Juozapaitis Sonata for solo cello
K Dmitry Kabalevsky Études in Major and Minor, Op. 68 (1961) Mauricio Kagel Siegfriedp‘ (1971) Giya Kancheli Having Wept for solo cello (1994) Nikolai Kapustin Introduction and Scherzino for solo cello, Op. 93 (1999) Suite for cello solo, Op. 124 (2004) Faradzh Karayev (aka Faraj Garayev) Terminus for solo cello (1985) Hugo Kauder Suite (1925) Second Suite (1924) Frederick Kaufman Inner Sanctum (1999) Tālivaldis Ķeniņš Sonata for Cello Solo (1981) Jin Hi Kim Kee Maek #4 (1995) Natalie Klouda Suite for Solo Cello (2017, revised 2019) Volker David Kirchner Und Salomo sprach (‘’And Salomo spoke”) (1987) Aus dem Buch der Konige 3 meditations (2000) Threnos (written for the Feuermann Competition 2006) Aram Khachaturian Sonata-Fantasy in C major, Op. 104 (1974) Adam Khudoyan Sonata No. 1 (1961) Sonata No. 2 Elegiac (1984) Sonata No. 3 Pathetic (1993) Mark Kilstofte You [unfolding] for solo cello (1996) Julius Klengel Suite in D-minor, Op. 56 Caprice in the Form of a Chaconne (with free use of a Theme by Robert Schumann), Op. 43 Alexander Knaifel Lamento for solo cello (1967) Capriccio for solo cello (1994) Zoltán Kodály Solo Cello Sonata, Op. 8 (1915) Capriccio (1915)