Composer

:

Michael Daugherty

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1989

Average_duration

:

9:50

"Lex" is a composition for solo cello and orchestra, composed by Michael Daugherty in 2009. The piece was commissioned by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and premiered on September 17, 2009, with cellist Zuill Bailey as the soloist and Giancarlo Guerrero conducting. The composition is divided into three movements, each of which is named after a famous person or character associated with the cello. The first movement, "Prelude: Pablo," is named after the Spanish cellist Pablo Casals and is characterized by its virtuosic cello writing and lush orchestration. The second movement, "Rondo: Jacqueline," is named after the French cellist Jacqueline du Pré and features a lively and playful theme that is passed between the cello and various sections of the orchestra. The final movement, "Postlude: Popper," is named after the Hungarian cellist David Popper and is a virtuosic tour-de-force for the soloist, featuring rapid-fire runs and intricate passagework. Throughout the piece, Daugherty incorporates various musical references and allusions, including quotations from works by Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky, as well as nods to popular culture, such as the use of a distorted electric guitar in the second movement. The composer also employs a wide range of orchestral colors and textures, from delicate, shimmering strings to raucous brass and percussion. Overall, "Lex" is a dynamic and engaging work that showcases the versatility and expressive range of the cello, as well as Daugherty's skillful orchestration and inventive musical imagination.

More....