SKU: BA.BA11071

ISBN 9790006562015. 42 x 29.7 cm inches.

“Now II” is the second part of a triptych of chamber pieces entitled “Profiles of Light”. The first part is written for solo piano (Now I, BA 11073), the second for unaccompanied cello. The two instruments are then combined in the concluding third part, Uriel (BA 11013).

All three pieces were inspired by the Abstract Expressionist paintings of the American artist Barnett Newman. Newman's work has had a formative impact on Matthias Pintscher's artistic philosophy: what does it mean to reduce things to essentials while seeking maximum immediacy of expression? Several of Newman's paintings have a radiant light of uncommon intensity, yet resembling a dark illumination. The same sort of thing is found in the late works of Franz Schubert, where a comparable profundity and retrospective yearning likewise shine through the surface of even the brightest tonalities.

This is a piece about resonances, about the inward and outward givens of existence, about life itself: 'I find the cello a highly suitable instrument for depicting such existential conditions'.

SKU: BR.EB-9357

Compulsory Piece for the Final Round oft he ARD International Music Competition (Munich, September 2019)

ISBN 9790004188279. 9 x 12 inches.

The sound of the cello in this piece should be foggy like voice of Ella Fitzgerald. Sweet, smooth and pleasant, but at the same time slightly hoarse, rustle, dirty. There are almost only natural harmonics; either single, or in chords (triple-stops) including two natural harmonics, or double-stops of two harmonics. All should be played flautando, sul tasto and molto lasciar vibrare. Flautando and sul tasto should serve in search for the foggy color - harmonics should speak less clear than normally, but more smooth and decent.(Martin Smolka) ,Like Ella' would be suited to a player of a high standard as many harmonics are in higher positions and played as triple-stops. I would recommend ,Like Ella' to an advanced cellist seeking to learn a piece of modern music to add to their concert repertoire.(Mitchell Smith, AUSTA Stringendo)

Compulsory Piece for the Final Round of the ARD International Music Competition (Munich, September 2019).