Suite (Penderecki)
The Suite (formerly and alternatively entitled Divertimento) is a 1994 composition for solo cello by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. The piece is well known for its typical chromatic melodies and for its recurrent use of pizzicati and col legno.[1]
Composition
This composition takes approximately 20 minutes to perform. The movement list is as follows:[2]
- Serenade
- Scherzo
- Notturno
- Sarabande (Johann Sebastian Bach in memoriam)
- Tempo di valse
- Aria
There is one recording of the complete cello suite containing the prelude commissioned by cellist Arto Noras for the 2013 Paulo cello-competition, the recording was made by cellist Jakob Spahn released on december 14 2018 by Dux Records. Most typically, recordings tend to omit at least one movement.[3][4]
Penderecki wrote this suite for solo cello as part of a musical collaboration with fellow cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, a musical collaboration which started with the Cello Concerto No. 2 and which went on for more than twenty years.[1] It was premiered at Köln in December 28, 1994, by Russian composer and cellist Boris Piergamienszczikow.[5] Since then, the composition has rarely been performed. However, it has been published both by Boosey and Hawkes and Schott Music.[2][5]
Penderecki himself arranged some of the movements of this composition for viola for separate performance, among them Sarabande, which he rearranged in 2000.[6]
Notable recordings
As mentioned previously, there is no complete recording of the piece. Here is a list of notable partial recordings of this composition:
Solo cello | Record company | Year of recording | Format |
---|---|---|---|
Arto Noras | Naxos Records | 2004 | CD[7] |
Dariusz Skoraczewski | Analog Arts | 2004 | CD[4] |
References
- Whitehouse, Richard (2004). "About this Recording – 8.557052 – PENDERECKI: Sextet / Clarinet Quartet / Cello Divertimento". Hong Kong: Naxos Digital Services Ltd. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- Penderecki, Krzysztof (1994). "Krzysztof Penderecki: Divertimento For Cello Solo". Boosey & Hawkes. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- "Penderecki: Sextet; Clarinet Quartet (CD – Naxos #8 557052)". Rovi Corp. 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- "Cello Populus (CD – Analog Arts #8830)". Rovi Corp. 2004. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- "Divertimento". Schott Music GmbH & Co. 1994. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- "Krzysztof Penderecki (* 1933) Sarabanda (2000)". Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- "PENDERECKI: Sextet / Clarinet Quartet / Cello Divertimento". Naxos Digital Services Ltd. 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2013.