Voice and cello duos

Abstract

he soprano and cello duo is a new and unexplored chamber music instrumentation. Because of the relative youth of the duo, composers and performers are not afforded the same historical and compositional insight into the function of the duo as in the case of traditional chamber music groups. Performers are limited in their programming options while composers have few works to reference when preparing to write a new work for the soprano and cello duo. Composers will find that a review of solo literature does not take into account the possibilities of musical interaction between the voice and cello when paired as a duo. Similarly, duo performers cannot enjoy the same mentorship with experienced performers that more established groups – string quartets, piano trios, etc. – have found with their own teachers and coaches.

In 2010, the Counterpointe Duo (soprano Meredith Mecum and myself, cellist Justin Dougherty) commissioned four composers to write new works for the soprano and cello duo. The examination of four new works for soprano and cello by Dominick DiOrio, Brian D. Kelly, Steven J. Knell, and Bruce Trinkley in this document and the accompanying recording is intended to act as an aid to composers and performers. The explanations in this guide do not discuss the success in performance of the four works by DiOrio, Kelly, Knell, and Trinkley. Instead, excerpts from the four scores are analyzed to provide information for performers and composers regarding the performance and composition of future works for the soprano and cello duo.