From the 14th On

In 1972, David Gibson asked me to write a piece for him for solo cello. Three things came to my mind. First, that David understood the sonic resources of the cello as an instrument. Second, that the cello, like the guitar, projected an exceptionally wide range of different sounds from low to high and from string to string. And third, that David knew how to read my intentions for the notes. In fact, Segovia’s guitar performances came to mind because of the very effective way he exploited differences in guitar timbres in choosing different strings to play different notes.

So what I had to do was clear. I wrote a piece in notation that allowed David to explore the cello’s sounds and to make his own decisions about the details of the notes and sounds. Indeed, I look upon performances of the piece as collaborations and, even more, and as examples of a wonderful symbiosis between composer and performer.

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For other compositions, click on a title

Blues Mix 1966
Albany Music 3 1966
Jack in January 1967
Street Scene 1967

Drift 1970
Ideas of Movement at Bolton Landing 1971
Echoes 1972

From The 14th On 1973

Flowers 1975
Settings for Spirituals 1977

Solo 1978
Scenes from Stevens 1979
Follow Me Softly 1984

After Some Songs 1995
Spring Drum with Pierre’s Words 1997

Many Times … 2001
One World 1 2006
Micro Fictions 2009
Different Cities 2013