Suite for Cello & Piano

Listen to Suite for Cello & Piano on SoundCloud.
 
This suite consists of four short pieces: Prelude, Canto, Impromptu, and Passages. The entire suite takes about 15 minutes to perform. The first two pieces can be performed alone as short intermezzi in a program with longer works.
 
Prelude – ca. 4 minutes
The texture and form of this piece draws inspiration from the short solo instrumental works of Bach and Brahms. The primary theme slowly unfolds with tonal shifts and harmonic developments that continue to expand up until the very last chord.
 
Canto – ca. 3 ½ minutes
This piece explores a minimalist theme through a series of playful variations. The first half opens with the piano and cello alternating roles of soloist and accompanist. As the variations progress, piano and cello combine in an intricate dance in which melody and accompaniment meld into one single theme.
 
Impromptu – ca. 3 minutes
The Impromptu weaves a series of short vignettes, each exploring the texture and register of the cello and piano in different ways. The timbre of these sections evokes the everyday sounds of contemporary life: the dings of smart phones and the buzzing of a busy world.
 
Passages – ca. 4 minutes
Continuing from the disjointed texture of Impromptu, Passages gradually transitions into more unified legato phrases. This lyrical shift culminates in a joyous and triumphant middle section with the cello soaring melodically over a fast ostinato piano accompaniment. The ending transitions back toward the more disjointed beginning, ending in a quiet denouement.