This composition for cello solo, La clé de la liberté (The key of freedom) is dedicated to Eric Feldbusch, a famous Belgian cellist-composer. He was born in Liège in 1922 and died in Wavre in 2007.
During WWII, in 1941, he finished second at the Pablo Casals Cello Competition, behind Jacqueline Du Pré. Then, his life changed suddenly when he was taken in captivity by the Nazis as political prisoner in the “Bastion Saint François –bloc 24”a prisoners camp in Liège .
At the end of the war, all remaining prisoners were executed by the Nazis except for the people being locked in the last cell. The camp guard gave the keys to the prisoners and left. It was quiet for a few hours but then Eric walked out on his way to freedom.
When he left he weighted just 45 kg but a few days later he was still able to play Dvorak’s cello concerto at the liberation festivities in Liège..
I wrote this composition during the first lockdown of 2020 in Vienna.
If You Were Still Here is a piece for cello and piano is minimalistic in style, yet its character is very emotional. I composed it for a friend who passed away. The piece has a great tension arc in the dynamics that must be well dosed, along with the long bow strokes. The piece is very suitable as an interlude or resting point in a cello recital, but also as music in a memorial service for or farewell to a loved one.
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Minuet by Luigi Boccherini is an arrangement of the famous Minuet from the string quintet op. 11, Nr. 5 by Luigi Boccherini for cello solo and string orchestra.
It is a very light and playful piece that fits perfectly as a counterweight of a heavier piece or as an encore. The voices of the string orchestra are orchestrated very lightly which gives the cellist freedom to play in a very relaxed way.
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I composed this piece for violoncello in 2017, inspired by the refugee crisis in Europe.
I wanted to compose a work in a language that reconnects different religions. I chose the title ‘’Jebel Musa’’ because this mountain was sacred to Christians, Muslims and Jews.
This piece is very expressive, full of tension and it often has a dark atmosphere that describes the predicament of the refugees.
It is a real challenge for the cellist because throughout the piece there are double stops and melodies, led by the thumb.
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‘’Light of life’’ is a minimalistic piece for cello and piano. I composed it inspired by the ever- changing play of light. It is very suitable in the middle of a heavy concert program to give the audience a moment to breathe or even bring them into a meditative atmosphere. I used this work several times at concerts and it was always very well appreciated by the audience. “Light of life” gives the cellist a chance to experiment with phrasing, sound and
bow technique.
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