Cello
SKU:
BT.MUSM570366453
Composed by Evis
Sammoutis. Classical.
Score Only. 10 pages.
University of York Music
Press #MUSM570366453.
Published by University
of York Music Press
(BT.MUSM570366453).
English.
'Brice
Catherin, a cellist and a
composer exploring the
notion of the
one-man-band concept,
commissioned this work;
this composition was
subsequently the result
of our collaboration. My
aim has been to create a
work where the cellist
produces sounds using his
full body: his hands
(employing a variety of
extended techniques on
the Cello and external
objects), his feet, his
mouth (singing and
playing the harmonica and
flexible tube) and even
his face on one occasion
to muffle the strings.
There are two central
themes in the work:
virtuosity and theatre,
both strong, frequent
features of my
compositional oeuvre.
After several meetings
and experimentation with
Brice, I chose asetup
that enhances the musical
scope without visually
cluttering the stage. I
am also using a rather
unusual scordatura that
not only changes the
timbre of the instrument
itself, but also helps
create unique soundscapes
that blend together with
the sounds from the
spring drums, the human
voice (whistling, groans
and other effects), a
singing bowl, a harmonica
and a flexible tube among
others. The work is
entitled Emmelia and
there are two reasons for
this: Emmelia derives
from the prefix en (in)
and the noun melos
(harmony), thus meaning
in harmony. The
composition is structured
and developed in clearly
defined sections (noisy,
harmonious, distorted,
etc.), based on
information revealed by a
spectral analysis of an
F1 spectrum on the cello
(tuned a fifth below low
C), played and recorded
using a variety of
attacks and triggering
objects and methods.
Emmelia is also the name
of my baby daughter, who
has been my constant
inspiration since she was
born.' - Evis
Sammoutis.