Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
Digital download
- Augusta Read Thomas
Bells Ring Summer (2000)
- G Schirmer Inc (World)
Audio clip: Oxingale Records CD2004
Programme Note
Composer’s Note:
Bells Ring Summer is a short fanfare for solo cello. The music starts with bold and relentless ringing tones, like a carillon blowing in the wind. The same pitches are played on adjacent strings, celebrating the vast color fields of the cello itself. Little by little, the bells climb higher in register, while athletic and dramatic lower register events interrupt their flow. Finally, as if only a fragile echo remains, the bells ring off into silence with battuto, col legno, pizzicato, in the highest register of the instrument.
Dedicated with admiration and gratitude to David Finckel. The work was made with David's powerful, musical and exquisite sound in my ear.
— Augusta Read Thomas
Bells Ring Summer is a short fanfare for solo cello. The music starts with bold and relentless ringing tones, like a carillon blowing in the wind. The same pitches are played on adjacent strings, celebrating the vast color fields of the cello itself. Little by little, the bells climb higher in register, while athletic and dramatic lower register events interrupt their flow. Finally, as if only a fragile echo remains, the bells ring off into silence with battuto, col legno, pizzicato, in the highest register of the instrument.
Dedicated with admiration and gratitude to David Finckel. The work was made with David's powerful, musical and exquisite sound in my ear.
— Augusta Read Thomas
Media
Bells Ring Summer
Scores
Reviews
A challenging piece for both listener and performer, with drawn-out tones, quick plucked notes, the short work has great urgency and its shivering, keening, melody prayer-like.
26th September 2009
Discography
Astral Canticle
- LabelNimbus Alliance
- Catalogue Number6306
- Released10th July 2015
American Masters For The 21st Century
- LabelInnova
- Catalogue Number616
- SoloistGeorge Macero, cello
- Released7th December 2004
- LabelOxingale
- Catalogue Number1238
- SoloistMatt Haimovitz, cello
