Rock Around The Clock: Transcribed for Cello

Here is the sheet music for the rock classic “Rock Around The Clock” in a version for cello.

This high-energy piece, written by Max Freedman and James Myers in 1952 and made famous in a version by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1954, was the first big hit of “rock music”. We can only wonder if the term “rock music” was actually created and established by its success. This is great dancing music and we cellists are not normally used to this type of playing (or reading). Finding the bowings, articulations, and the best way to notate it is not easy: this is quite a different language to what a “classical” musician normally “speaks”. But it’s a great piece of music, loads of fun and well worth the effort. It’s also quite therapeutic for a “classical” musician because we have to be super loose, almost dancing as we are playing. We are a long long way from Brahms here. So ….. have fun!

Edited Performance Version    Clean Performance Version

And here below is a play-along audio accompaniment: