Bohemian cellist David Popper was born in Prague in 1843. He studied with Julius Goltermann at the Prague Conservatory in 1850. Recommended by Hans von Bülow, Popper took the position of Chamber Virtuoso in the court of Prince von Hohenzollern-Hechingen in Löwenberg where he premiered Robert Volkmann’s Cello Concerto in A minor in 1864. He then made his Vienna debut in 1867 and became principal cellist at the Hofoper. Popper was a member of the Hellmesberger Quartet, and eventually the Budapest Quartet with Jenő Hubay, with whom he premiered Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor. Popper was a professor at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. He was one of the last great cellists who did not use an endpin.

As a composer, Popper is remembered for his technical studies, especially the High School of Cello Playing: Forty Études for Cello Solo, and many salon pieces for the cello and piano that allow opportunities for virtuoso display, great delicacy and lyricism. He also wrote four cello concertos.

Dedicated to A. N. Makewitsch, Popper’s Gavotte in D Major, Op. 23 No. 2 was published in 1879. In this delightful character piece, the simplistic, lively first section is contrasted by a rustic middle section with drone notes. It is often used in pedagogical collections including the Suzuki Cello Method, as cellists deal with techniques such as slurred staccato, natural harmonics, double stops and thumb position throughout the piece.

The current transcription for cello solo and cello quartet attempts to explore the beauty of this work in a chamber music setting, whether it is played by professionals or students. The original piano part is kept to a large extent in the accompanying cello 1, 2, 3 and 4 parts, except for moving certain passages down an octave and adding or shortening slurs to fit the cello better. Fingering and bowing suggestions can be found in the accompaniment parts, but not the solo part.

-Ka-Wai Yu