Variations on a Wanderer's Theme

"Variations on a Wanderer's Theme" for Solo Cello, based on the Shakespeare play, "Hamlet".
This is my entry for the Summer Composition Competition.

Wonderful!

Not only a pleasure to listen to it, but also seeing the score. What a great lesson about how to write for cello!

4 hours ago, Luis Hernández said:

Wonderful!

Not only a pleasure to listen to it, but also seeing the score. What a great lesson about how to write for cello!

 

You're always so kind! Thanks so much!

Fantastic job! I love the use of special effects. I think it must be very fun to play if you are a cellist. Using variations to represent different character interactions in the 5 acts of the play is a great idea and very well executed. 

51 minutes ago, fishyfry said:

Fantastic job! I love the use of special effects. I think it must be very fun to play if you are a cellist. Using variations to represent different character interactions in the 5 acts of the play is a great idea and very well executed. 

 

Hey, thanks a lot! The competition specifically called for knowing your instruments so what better way to fulfill that than to use one of your main instruments.
 

Stunning piece! One of the best cello writing I've ever seen.

I can only echo everyone else's praise. This might be my favorite entry so far (I've only listened to two but it still counts as high praise right??) in the competition. For obvious reasons, the last variation is my favorite.

I forgot to mention that you chose the same work (Hamlet) as I did. Clearly we took different approaches, and yours paid off handsomely. Again, great job!

Indeed, what is most stunning about this work is how boldly you extract so much color from a single instrument. It's pretty obvious that you master cello writing - but it takes a lot more than just that to have the instrument personified as none other than Hamlet himself. It's easy to follow how his soul and mind are progressively transformed by the circumstances he's forced to face.

The score for this work should be reviewed by everyone of us who wants to write an effective work for cello solo (I did an attempt a few years ago, and although I did just fine, I was nowhere as close to comfortable as you seem to be, both in terms of musical language and instrumentation).

Congrats in advance - this one will be particularly tough to beat!

15 hours ago, KJthesleepdeprived said:

I can only echo everyone else's praise. This might be my favorite entry so far (I've only listened to two but it still counts as high praise right??) in the competition. For obvious reasons, the last variation is my favorite.

I forgot to mention that you chose the same work (Hamlet) as I did. Clearly we took different approaches, and yours paid off handsomely. Again, great job!

 

Thank you! The last variation... man, if only I had played it better in the recording!

50 minutes ago, Austenite said:

The score for this work should be reviewed by everyone of us who wants to write an effective work for cello solo (I did an attempt a few years ago, and although I did just fine, I was nowhere as close to comfortable as you seem to be, both in terms of musical language and instrumentation).

Congrats in advance - this one will be particularly tough to beat!

Playing cello rather proficiently, I'd say I have an advantage in writing for it, but your praise is appreciated nonetheless!