Trying to find unaccompanied cello suites that aren’t by J. S. Bach? Look no further.

Cello Suites Beyond Bach

Bach’s Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello set the standard for solo cello repertoire, inspiring generations of composers to explore the instrument’s expressive potential in new ways.

In this ninth edition of my digital postcard series, I turn to British composer and educator Dr. John Webber. A former Royal Marines musician and flutist, Webber has spent decades composing, teaching, and directing ensembles across Britain, Germany, and the United States. His three Suites for Unaccompanied Cello extend the lineage of unaccompanied works with clarity, lyricism, and modern charm—offering cellists fresh repertoire that bridges traditional and contemporary styles.

Curious to explore more solo cello music? Be sure to check out my earlier postcard collections featuring Asian composers, Black composers, women composers, and Hispanic and Latino/Latina composers, or browse all of my postcards.

Postcard #1 – Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello by John Webber

• Title: Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello
• Composer: John Webber
• Year Composed: 1998
• Instrumentation: unaccompanied cello
• Duration: 5:10
• Movements: 8
• Number of Pages: 4
• Number of Measures: 24, 21, 14, 8, 40, 11,29, 26
• Tempo: not indicated
• Difficulty Level: intermediate
• Highest Position Reached:
  • Allegretto: 3rd
  • Poco meno: 4th
  • Courante: 4th
  • Allemande: 4th
  • Gigue: 4th
  • Gavotte:   4th
  • Sarabande: 3rd
  • Overture: 4th
• Technique: bass clef, 5/8, 6/8, 7/8, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 time signatures; dotted rhythms, sixteenth notes, accidentals, grace notes, jumping from 4th to first position across strings
• Publisher: composer
• Where to Obtain Score: IMSLP
• Cost of Score*: free

Recording

Cellist’s Guide

Do you want to play the Bach Suites but aren’t quite ready? Try Webber’s Suite No. 1 to give you a taste of what is to come. These eight short dances introduce cellists to Baroque dances such as: the Allemande, Courante, Gavotte, and Sarabande, in just four pages.

Suite No. 1 is the most accessible of Webber’s three suites, as the movements are short, the phrasing is rather traditional and the highest position reached is 5th. The second movement can be played in 2nd through 5th position. The third and fourth dances alternate between 6/8 and 7/8 time. The Gavotte consists mostly of sixteenth notes in contrast to the Allegretto and Overture, which highlight dotted figures.

Postcard #2 – Suite No. 2  for Solo Cello by John Webber

• Title: Suite No. 2 for Solo Cello
• Composer: John Webber
• Year Composed: 1998
• Instrumentation: unaccompanied cello
• Duration: 7:15-7:20
• Movements: 8
• Number of Pages: 5
• Number of Measures: 18, 22, 22, 32, 21, 29, 26, 29
• Tempo: not indicated
• Difficulty Level: varies from intermediate to early advanced
• Highest Position Reached:
  • Intrada: 4th
  • Nearly Half Speed: 6th
  • L’Istesso tempo: 4th
  • Furtively: 4th
  • Lazily: 4th
  • L’Istesso tempo: 3rd
  • Dirge: 2nd
  • Finale: 2nd
• Technique: bass clef; 2/8, 3/8, 6/8, 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time signatures; double & triple stops; pizzicato, accidentals
• Publisher: composer
• Where to Obtain Score: IMSLP
• Cost of Score*: free

Recording

Cellist’s Guide

The Intrada and Finale can be categorized as solidly intermediate level pieces, as neither have double stops or challenging shifts and both can be played at a moderate tempo.

The Dirge and Lazily are quite slow.  While they do have double stops, one of the notes is almost always an open string.

Both the second and fourth movements have moderately challenging double stops, with the fourth movement also including consistently rapid string crossings.

The third and sixth movements move at quite a clip, with sixteenth note passages, numerous accidentals and tricky shifts.

I would consider the second, third, fourth and sixth movements to be early advanced level.

Postcard #3 – Suite No. 3  for Solo Cello by John Webber

• Title: Suite No. 3 for Solo Cello
• Composer: John Webber
• Year Composed: 1998
• Instrumentation: unaccompanied cello
• Duration: 6:45
• Movements: 7
• Number of Pages: 5
• Number of Measures: 29, 37, 16, 15, 16, 51, 20
• Tempo: not indicated
• Difficulty Level: intermediate through advanced
• Highest Position Reached:
  • Strutting: 4th
  • Deliberately: 3rd
  • 5th, Allegretto: 4th
  • L’Istesso tempo: 3rd
  • Solemnly: 3rd
  • Poco a poco accell.: thumb
  • Molto meno: thumb
• Technique: bass clef, tenor & treble clefs; 2/8, 3/8, 5/8, 6/8, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 time signatures; accidentals; double, triple & quadruple stops; glissandos, pizzicato
• Publisher: composer
• Where to Obtain Score: IMSLP
• Cost of Score*: free

Recording

Cellist’s Guide

The second movement of this suite is the only one I would consider  truly intermediate level, as there are no double stops, the highest position reached is fifth and the tempo is moderate.

The fourth movement is appropriate for the late intermediate cellist, as the tempo is a bit faster and there are frequent shifts to less familiar notes on the lower strings.

The third movement is metered 2/8+3/8+2/8 within each measure. While the notes aren’t challenging, the meter may be.

The first, fifth, sixth and 7th movements are filled with double stops, with the opening being the most accessible. While I might consider the first movement intermediate level, the other movements are definitely advanced level, particularly the end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh pieces.

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