Cello Concerto - 2/4

Third movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rmF4vvSW0U John Towner Williams' cello concerto, second movement, "blues" Le second mouvement du concerto pour violoncelle de John Towner Williams, blues. Solist/soliste : Yo-Yo Ma Performed by/interprété par the Los Angeles recording arts orchestra Conducted by/dirigé par John Williams. About the concerto : "My cello concerto resulted from a suggestion by Seiji Ozawa that I write a piece for cello and orchestra expressly with Yo-Yo Ma in mind. Discussions on this project developed and the Boston Symphony agreed to commission the work, requesting that it be premiered at the opening of new Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, Massachusetts, during the summer of 1994. I began work at the end of 1993, and I celebratory concert that marked the dedication of Tanglewood's exciting new venue. I had known Yo-Yo Ma for quite a few years before this event. Together we had performed concertos of Elgar, Dvorak, and Haydn among others, and on several occasions I had accompanied him at the piano. Over the years we've become close friends, and I looked forward to writing for him with great pleasure. Given the broad technical and expressive arsenal available in Yo-Yo's work, planning the concerto was a joy. I decided to have four fairly extensive movements that would offer as much variety and contrast as possible, but that could be played continuously and without interruption." - John Williams About the second movement: "The second movement I call Blues. In my mind, and without conscious prodding of my part, the ghosts of Ellington and Strayhorn seemed to waft through the atmosphere. Invited or not, this was for me, very welcome company. I set up clusters in piano and percussion that form a frame within wich the cello unveils its misty quasi-improvisations.