Wolff: Small Pieces for Cellist (Anton)

Description

Each of these five movements for solo cello uses a different technique to extend the performer's control over various dimensions of the music. The composer writes:

"There are five pieces. in the first, second and fifth there are phrase sequences with free pauses between them. There are also notations for just dynamics (sounds free), and for just rhythms (free sounds). The third and fourth pieces are on grids of 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 bars, allowing continuities to be chosen in variously free ways."

The fifth piece, consisting of a series of passages that may be performed in any sequence, may also be played as a cello duo, with the second cellist playing a different sequence.

The Anton of the title is the dedicatee, cellist Anton Lukoszevieze, who gave the world premiere of this suite at St James' Church, Islington, London on September 21, 2018. This performing edition is a facsimile of the composer's autograph manuscript. At moderate tempi, the total duration of the work may be approximately 15 minutes.