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Title: Flight of the Bumblebee
Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Instrument: Violoncello
Edited By: David Geringas
Instrumentation: Solo
Pages: 2


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This orchestral interlude from the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan closes Act III immediately after the magic Swan-Bird gives the Tsar's son instructions on how to change into an insect so that he can fly away to visit his father who believes him to be dead.  The music is meant to signify the Prince's flight as a bumblebee.  This arrangement for solo cello by David Geringas is great as an encore but also great for developing agility and speed.  It is subtitled "Exercise for the 4th finger" and includes 6 small preparatory exercises.

SWAN-BIRD:
Well, now, my bumblebee, go on a spree,
catch up with the ship on the sea,
go down secretly,
get into a crack a little distance away.
Good luck, Gvidon, fly,
only do not stay long!
(The bumblebee flies away.)

Click below to preview or purchase a recording of Fournier or Aldulescu performing an arrangement for violoncello and piano or Webber performing an arrangement for violoncello and orchestra.