How do you classify a solo? and how do you find the class of the solo?

Question

My teacher wants me to play Fraure Elegy for cello and me and him want to know what class it is.

i've been wanting to know to to classify a solo like Class 1, 2, 3, etc. i've played Le Cygne and that was a class one. do y'all know what i'm talking about?

but please help..(TSSEC/UIL)

Answer 1

Is this for a solo and ensemble?  If so the judges will decide which classes the music is in.

Answer 2

By "class" I assume you mean "ability level rating"?  Usually, it is printed on the cover, sometimes inside on the first page (if it has a page about the composer, style, etc...).  

I found a copy online, but can't find the level marking anywhere... I will give you the links...

To buy:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_...

Cover:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_...

First page of piano part (notating solo cello):

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_...

First page of cello part:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_...

Different arrangements of the same song can have different difficulty ratings... For example, look up "Autumn Leaves" sometime... there are 100's of variations, ranging from beginning musicians to pro level arrangements!  It depends on the publisher.

Hopefully, if you can show your cello teacher the first page, they will have a good idea what skill level it is... From what I saw, it could very well be advanced high school or perhaps college level- somewhere around a 4 or 5. (Beginning music is usually around a "1"... pro orchestra music can range from 4 to 6, usually on the higher end).  Then again, I'm not a cello player, so your instructor might have a better idea!

Hope this helped- wish I could have done more!

EDIT: I found a site for DU listing their requirments for auditions... it says "for under-grad auditions, solo should be comparable to...

Bach, Suite #1 in G

Vivaldi, Sonata #5 in E Minor

Faure, Elegy"

http://www.du.edu/lamont/Aud.html#Cello

So it IS a college level piece, probably 4 or 5!