Mikroczellos (2021)
Instrumentation: cello solo
Duration: 13 minutes
Mikroczellos is a collection of six short pieces for cello that make no use of the instrument’s bow. They are instead performed using a kaleidoscopic variety of pizzicato and new performance techniques. I chose to work with these playing methods because I love the way they sound! There is a variety of ways to pluck, strum, or strike the strings of a cello, and each offers its own unique sonic flavor. However, these techniques have largely been overlooked in the past century. Understandably, most advancements in cello playing have been concerned with using the bow. Mikroczellos deliberately removes the bow from music making to bring new sounds to the forefront, creating a modern set of concert etudes that challenge cellists to rediscover the possibilities of their instrument.