Ravel’s Bolero is a meditation on a repeated theme with varying orchestrations forming a gradual crescendo. This arrangement for cello ensemble applies the same structure to the technical range of a single instrument. A wide range of techniques are employed, from a diversity of wood-tapping, to conventional, double, and strummed pizzicato, to three octaves of open harmonics, and the full range of bowed pitches muted and open.

A minimum of 4 cellos are required. The cello 5 (percussive) part should preferably be played on a cello, but other unpitched percussion can optionally be substituted. As additional cellists are available, add doubling to the cello 4, then 3, then 1, then 2 parts. The lower required-divisi passages can be omitted where needed. The optional-divisi sections are easier when enough players are available to cover each division separately. The non-divisi sections should always be captured by all available cellists on a part, as double-stops, two-finger concurrent pizzicato, or strummed pizzicato. Very large ensembles could consider adding players to each part gradually throughout a performance to enhance the gradual crescendo.