Cello, Celli

Label: Naxos
Year: 2003
Released on LP: No
Released on CD: Yes

Tracks

1. Elegy (arr. for cello ensemble)

2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051 (arr. for cello ensemble): I. Allegro

3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051 (arr. for cello ensemble): II. Adagio ma non tanto

4. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051 (arr. for cello ensemble): III. Allegro

5. La Fiesta do la Posada: God's Love Made Visible (arr. for cello ensemble)

6. Cello, Celli (arr. for cello ensemble)

7. Festival Mass to Hope: III. The Desert and the Parched Land (arr. for cello ensemble)

8. Jesu Christ! Je t'implore, BWV 639 (arr. for cello ensemble)

9. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (arr. for cello ensemble): I. Allegro

10. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (arr. for cello ensemble): II. Adagio

11. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (arr. for cello ensemble): III. Allegro

12. Regret (arr. for cello ensemble)

Notes

The Yale Cellos, directed by Aldo Parisot, perform a variety of numbers, some by Dave Brubeck.

Dave Brubeck is a friend of Parisot and a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University. The Brubeck pieces, mostly coming from his various liturgical works of recent years, were edited by Derek Snyder.

Reviews

John Sunier - Copyright

Keep in mind that I’m nuts about ensembles involving multiple groupings of similar instruments, and cello ensembles are one of my favorites. One of my own recordings of which I am most proud is a cello quartet. It looks like there are about 16 members of this ensemble, and their director is one of the world’s leading cellists – who has made many recordings. In fact I seem to remember the very first stereodisc of classical repertory I bought a Counterpoint LP featuring Parisot. He concertized throughout the world and had many works dedicated to him. In fact Villa-Lobos’ Cello Concerto No. 2 was written for him. His Delos CD with this ensemble – Bach Bachianas, got a Grammy nomination in 1988. Parisot has evidently been a superb teacher for the members of this ensemble.

The combination of Bach and Brubeck is not at all strange here. Both were/are great improvisers and both wrote/write important liturgical works. Brubeck is also a friend of Parisot and a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University. The two Bach Brandenburgs were transcribed for the ensemble by Claude Kenneson. They lack the variety of instrumental sounds of the original – including the harpsichord – though they benefit from the rich massed sounds of the cello ensemble. The intonation in these two selections could be more precise. The Brubeck pieces – mostly coming from his various liturgical works of recent years – were edited by Derek Snyder. If you also appreciate the rich string tone of the cello – probably the most-loved string instrument – I recommend this delightful disc!

John Sunier