Suite for Solo Cello (2013)

Ursula Smith approached me in 2012 about writing a suite for solo cello, to be performed with Britten’s 3rd suite and Bach’s 2nd Suite. She suggested we undertook the project as a memorial to our friend and colleague from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the cellist Kevin McCrae, who died tragically in 2005.

Kevin was a Scot – an Aberdonian – with a passion for the music of his country, and particular the ballads of the North East. He was a vibrant character and an astonishing musician who would keep us all entertained with renditions on cello and piano of all kinds of music, in a myriad of styles, and always with great humour.

The Britten uses Russian folk tunes, and in the same way, I decided to use melodies I associate with Kevin as a basis for the suite. And, in the manner of Bach, I have chosen dances for the five movements.

The opening Prelude draws on Nicky Tams, and Aberdeen Bothy Ballad. The Waltz is a variation on this, recalling Kevin’s sense of fun. A central, rather ethereal, Irish jig (Slip Jig) uses different colours such as sul ponticello – a glassy sounding bow technique. The Air is based on Burns’ song Ae Fond Kiss, which is about the sorrow of parting; and the final movement, a quirky tale on the Reel, refers occasionally to The De’il among the Taylors – an old favourite Kevin’s.

Suite for Solo Cello was commissioned by Ursula Smith, with funding from the RVW Trust and PRS for Music; and first performed at the Swaledale Festival in 2013.