Cellos Calling - five duos for two cellos
by Anthony Ritchie, Opus 233
Cellos Calling was written for the duo of Wendy Ju and Charlotte Kube - LUCE - as part of Wendy’s collaborative PhD study involving composers from Australia and New Zealand.
There are five movements:
Declamation - 2 minutes
Tango- 2 minutes 20
Sorrow – 3 minutes 20
Toy - 3 minutes
Song & Variations 5 minutes 30
These movements aim to provide the cellists with challenges but also a variety of expressive styles.
Moods are wide ranging, with humour mixed in with passion and sorrow.
The opening Declamation is like a speech without words introducing the work, to be performed in a free manner.
The Tango has only a loose connection with the Argentinian dance form but adopts a dramatic musical posture along with less serious elements.
The fourth movement, Toy, depicts a child’s mechanical toy, playing tricks before meeting a destructive end.
The final piece is a set of variations on a lyrical pop-style melody, and can be played in isolation should performers wish.
Duration: 16 minutes approx.
Dedicated to Wendy and Charlotte