T. 52--Cellodic Sketch 1

This was actually the first composition I wrote for my Music 188 class (1st level music composition), but I include it here in the composition order to associate it with Cellodic Sketch 2 and because I don’t have the exact date of composition. The prompt I chose was to use sounds the instrument was not designed to make, and I made sounds on my cello by strumming and slapping the strings. I was inspired by the techniques used in the movie August Rush, in which the title character plays his guitar like a percussion instrument. This technique was easily transferable to the cello. I no longer have the recording I made in class, so I recorded myself in my apartment. Even with minor mistakes, it captures my intent for the piece. 

The word “cellodic” is a simple word play between the words “cello” and “melodic.” I wanted to write more pieces like this, so I initially labeled this piece with the "1". At the time I also had the idea to write similar pieces for other instruments (similar by the use of nonconventional techniques to produce sounds on instruments) and use other word plays such as “vibrations” for the vibes, and “bassics” for the string bass. I continue to get inspiration from other musicians about how to play the cello, most notably Steven Sharp Nelson from The Piano Guys.