Nomade (2018)
(Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra)

The name of my Cello Concerto, Nomade, refers in an abstract way to searching and motion. The concerto begins with an expressive upward moving motif in the orchestral material which is a kind of harmonic-melodic DNA which permeates the entire work. The solo cello tries in its constant movement and search to reach this throughout the course of the piece but it is not until the Fourth Movement that the musical nucleus of the DNA is ultimately revealed.

The concerto consists of six movements. The First Movement could be described as aphoristic in its musical character. The Second Movement gradually evolves into a duel between the orchestra and soloist. This movement is followed by an Intermezzo that leads to the Third Movement, a short and intense scherzo, where the harmony from the previous Intermezzo returns and interrupts the playful musical events. The solo cello alone begins the Fourth Movement with more and more instruments gradually joining in a gently swaying translucent sound world that alludes to both baroque and folk music. A Second Intermezzo leads to the Fifth Movement which is actually a cadence where the soloist also has the opportunity to improvise. The cadence leads us to the wild, ritualistic and fast Sixth Movement. The musical events are characterized by strong contrasts, which is also evidenced by the solo cello’s climb all the way to high C5 and later descending down to F sharp under the instrument’s low C. At the end of the work, the harmonic-melodic DNA takes shape one last time but then fades out, as a colour dissolving in liquid.

The work is dedicated to Nicolas Altstaedt whose collaboration on this composition has left its mark. Nicolas’ profound and insightful musicianship has been immensely inspiring and at the same time the (in some way human) character of the cello came to remind me that our search never really ends: We are all nomads in one way or another.

Nomade was commissioned by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

The World Premiere took place on the 15.02.2019 at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and soloist Nicolas Altstaedt conducted by Hannu Lintu.

Sebastian Fagerlund