"Va' pensiero" from "Nabucco" for Four Violoncellos (original key)
When it comes to repertoire for Cello Ensemble, nothing comes closer to the goal than operatic arrangements. But where to start from? As an Italian, that was a surprisingly easy choice: the "Va’, Pensiero" chorus from Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco!
This arrangement was created in tandem with the Brazilian master Marcio Carneiro, and it is best suited for cello ensembles with at least eight members. If you have ever played the opera, though, you know this specific piece has an issue: it is in F-sharp major, with six sharps as key signature. This may make it somehow unapproachable for ensembles without enough time to rehearse it. That is why this arrangement comes in two versions: one in the original key (ASE 0005) and one in a more user-friendly G-major (ASE 0093). Each version contains: a full score, a full set of parts and an extra copy of the cello 1 & 2 parts in a slightly easier format, ideal for less advanced students.