Ballad for 8 Cellos

Sihao He Riana Anthony Kevin Zaporski Denielle Wilson Jeremy Tai Hana Cohon Drake Driscoll Brannon Cho Ballad: The musical language of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960) is truly eclectic. He is as willing to incorporate the influences of Latin rhythms, jazz and rap as he is to use harmonic worlds of the Romantic masters, the Renaissance and Hildegard von Bingen. Kernis’ Ballad for eight cellos was written in 2004 in memory of his parents who had passed away the previous year. The unique treatment of lyricism and harmony throughout the work is inspired by the composer’s recollection of his mother’s love of the classical American popular ballad singers of her time as well as his father’s fondness for jazz music. The influence of both, however, is not overt - the work is primarily a lament for the most vocal of instruments: the cello. Although there is no specific program attached to this work, the title, “Ballad,” suggests that there is a narrative underlying the music. Distinct sections of varying tempos, each of which explore different moods, textures, registers, and timbres, spell out an extended song form that takes many detours. A series of emotional intensifications push the lyricism of the piece to the breaking point, all the while daring the cello to reach the highest points in its register. The resulting musical story follows a large arch, beginning softly and subdued with a flautando quality in the cello, gradually but constantly intensifying toward a dramatic climax with more vigorous bow strokes, and finally calming down in an ethereal, tranquil haze of harmonics. At its core the piece most closely resembles a modern take of the 19th century Elegie or Vocalise, with its own distinct mix of 20th century tonal and jazz harmony.