Soe for solo cello
Carl Schimmel
Soe for solo cello
Carl Schimmel PROGRAM NOTES Soe is titled after one of the Maenads of Greek mythology, the wild women who were followers of the god of wine, Bacchus. The work uses three harmonic/melodic ideas, each of which uses notes from one of the three unique chords which can be formed by combining stacked fifths (e.g., C-G-D) and stacked major thirds (e.g., C-E-G#). The first theme uses an insistent repetitive idea, together with a leaping motive; the cello’s power and range are highlighted here. The second harmonic idea consists simply of alternating seconds. These “B” sections are fairly static harmonically but provide space for the cellist to showcase the cello’s broad expressive capabilities. The third and last theme is a chromatic and intense melody which displays the cello’s lyricism. Superimposed on these harmonic ideas is the rhythmic layout of the work. A rhythmic row (and its fifteen cycles) is used which contains all sixteen possible four-note combinations of long and short notes, without repeating any combination. Interspersed among these rows are the sixteen inversions of these cycles, using only quarter notes and eighth notes. The harmonic form is related in that no three consecutive sections are the same as any other three consecutive sections. Although the form, harmonies, and rhythms are highly organized, these formal considerations provide only a skeleton for what is intended to be an emotional and turbulent work.
Soe *
Allegro feroce 138
etc. 1
Solo Cello
(break)
6
> ord.
sul pont.
molto ritard. diminuendo
dolce 3
Quasi una cadenza 12
ca. 80 arco pizz.
subito
18
24
30
(open)
3 36
sfp 80 42
In strict time
poco accel.
Tempo I 138
pizz. arco
accelerando poco a poco
sfp
cresc.
*PERFORMANCE NOTE: Accidentals apply only to the note which immediately follows.
arco
pizz.
47
pizz.
arco
molto ritard.
Quasi una cadenza 53
ca. 60 arco
pizz.
3
59
3
poco rit.
crescendo poco a poco
a tempo
appassionato
65
pizz.
71
delicato
In strict time
arco
arco
ca. 120 pizz.
pizz. arco subito
dolce
sul pont. arco
77
pizz.
pizz.
sfp
sul tasto arco pizz.
arco
pizz.
arco
Quasi una cadenza pizz.
82
3
accelerando
gioviale
87
ca. 132
arco
sfp
intense
" !
intense
3
gioviale -2-
# !
3
gioviale
93
$ intense ord.
ca. 138 col legno battuto
99
col legno battuto
In strict time
ten.
ord.
138
% poco accel.
%
sfp
cresc. molto
105
&
arco
pizz.
111
> sul pont.
>
subito
& subito
subito
ord.
crescendo
Piu Mosso
porta. 117
feroce ord. col legno battuto
123
piu
pesante
insane
Quasi una cadenza 3
129
intense
molto appassionato
crescendo poco a poco
poco allargando
135
& diminuendo poco a poco -3-
141
&
dolce
147
&
poco cresc.
153
&
senza vibrato
159
ritardando poco a poco
Molto vivace -- in strict time 204 sul pont.
165
> ord.
poco cresc.
(con vibrato)
170
(
)
cresc. molto
-4-
cresc.