I recently had a visit from a talented pianist. We thought we should play something together and the beautiful Chopin cello sonata slow movement was our choice - I have known it by heart for 50 years. (Her husband took the video; I don’t often get filmed playing.)
It reminded me of two things I do when I practise (which I don’t do often enough) - these are tips that all amateur cellists should learn and practise.
Practise tapping the required note on the string with the finger BEFORE drawing the bow. It is the best way of securing good intonation. It is a slow process but can gradually be sped up.
Remember that rising up a large interval (anything over, say, a fourth) can be done in more than one way. Sliding up and tapping the string is often secure. But it is also possible (and I would have done it here had I practised) simply to think of spanning the interval so that there is no obvious slide. The hand somehow arcs over the string and one can practise (1) above in getting the note right on tune.
This movement is a beautiful, tender exchange between cello and piano. Even when the cello is simply playing along harmonising the piano tune (e.g. 0.17 to 0.31 mins, 0.47 to 1.03, 1.13 to 1.25) it feels as if it is saying something.
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