works » solo

Year Composed: 2012
Duration: 0:06:30
Premiere: December 14th, 2012; James Perretta (cello); Stamps Auditorium - Walgreen Drama Center; University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI
Additional Performances: May 20, 2021 - Daniel Lelchuk (cello); New Orleans Chamber Players; Ogden Museum of Southern Art - New Orleans, LA
December 14th, 2012 - Caroline Kim (cello); Paul Hall - The Juilliard School, NYC, NY

Program Notes:

I visited my cello teacher, Dr. Stephen Pelkey, in my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri in preparation for this piece. His entire collection of cello scores was neatly organized in his library, except one: the Suite for Cello Solo by Gaspar Cassadó, nestled safely in his cello case. He lent me the cello which belonged to his late wife, Kristi Knecht—my cello teacher of several years who passed away after a tragic accident in 2011. The solemn, reccurring theme originated from my short time with Kristi’s cello over the summer. This theme evolves after a somber introduction inspired by the Korean pansori genre of storytelling and suffering, han. Thereafter, the piece blends with Spanish elements inspired by Cassadó’s suite which borrows Baroque elements of Bach’s cello suites as well as the music of Ravel and Kodály in this transnational and transgenerational musical conversation.

Dedicated to Kristi Knecht and Dr. Stephen Pelkey