Jonathan Harvey - Oeuvres pour Violoncelle (2002)

Here’s another contribution to the Harvest… er, the Harvey Fest.
I don’t know if there were any cellos killed during the recordings of this album; let alone how many of them; but rest assured, performer Benjamin Carat didn’t smash his instrument like Pete Townshend from the Who. For the rest, it is amazing to hear what can be done with a cello. Or should I say, TO a cello…poor thing.
The above was an ironical comment, of course. Harvey, a cellist himself, wouldn’t think of hurting an innocent music instrument, now would he? Unless he wanted to avenge a youth wasted on trying to master those tough, unruly strings.

New sounds to be explored here!
In the first track, the cello reaches for the highest registers. So high actually, that at their most extreme, the sounds can barely be heard. The second track does just the opposite; it’s a highly complicated piece in which three cellos on tape seem to follow a live one; at certain positions, the taped tracks are delayed, thus producing sounds that are similar to the roaring of an underground train.

And the last track, Advaya – how to describe it? An Invisible, Stringed Creature attacking us from all sides in a landscape well-suited for vampires, giant spiders and other Hammer Horror cuties…you won’t be bored.
It is well done, as I’ve come to expect from this inventive composer

Tracks:

01. Curve with Plateaux [0:10:40.65]
02. Ricercare una Melodia

Three Sketches [0:05:51.22]
03. I [0:04:01.70]
04. II [0:02:29.58]
05. III [0:03:40.50]

06. Chant [0:03:07.10]
07. Advaya [0:22:15.62]

Performer:

Benjamin Carat