Squire, William Henry: Gondoliera

William Henry Squire’s Gondoliera for cello and piano evokes the dreamy magic of Venice and the barcarolles of Chopin, Fauré, Liszt and Mendelssohn. Performers and audiences who enjoy the three ‘Venetian gondola songs’ in Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte will certainly derive pleasure from Squire’s illustration of the watery half-light of the lagoon at dusk or daybreak and the chiarascuoro of a contrasting, brighter middle section in G major. Though not challenged technically beyond an intermediate level of difficulty of around Grade 6, cellists ideally must project the melody with truly vocal poise and bel canto spirit in this short work that is a real treasure for amateur and professional players alike.