Cello Concerto #1
This violoncello concerto was commissioned by John Parkinson, conductor of the Lake County Symphony Orchestra in November of 2003. My intention was to compose a piece that is both easily playable by most community orchestras and enjoyable by audiences unused to more atonal or "modern" fare. So, the heavy lifting is done by the cello soloist. That notwithstanding, this concerto is intended to be playable by not only virtuosos, but also by any fairly decent cellist.
The Cello Concerto is in three movements: "Clearlake", "The Fair" and "Konocti". It features a cadenza in the first movement that is a musical tip of the hat to the Bach suites for unaccompanied cello. With the exception of a few thinned-out sections, the second movement does not have a cadenza for the soloist. The third movement begins with an extended solo for cello. It also features a 2.5 - 3 minute cadenza for the soloist that must be improvised, hence, it is not notated. It is my fervent hope that the tradition of improvisation can be restored to "classical" music before it dies out as an art form. This concerto represents an opportunity for cellists to contribute to the tradition of improvisation using the cello's vibrant and beautiful voice. |
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Tonality - 90%
Difficulty - Moderate |
You can view and download the Cello solo part for free.
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Photo b y Big Rick