Composer

:

Kaija Saariaho

Genre

:

Chamber

Compose Date

:

2010

Average_duration

:

7:17

Kaija Saariaho's "Tocar" is a contemporary classical piece for solo cello, composed in 2010. The piece was premiered on October 15, 2010, by cellist Anssi Karttunen at the Musica Nova Helsinki festival. "Tocar" is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement, "Lointain," is marked by long, sustained notes and a sense of distance and longing. The second movement, "Calme," is more introspective and contemplative, with a slower tempo and a focus on the cello's lower register. The final movement, "Joyeux," is more upbeat and energetic, with fast, virtuosic passages and a sense of celebration. Throughout the piece, Saariaho makes use of extended techniques to create a wide range of sounds and textures. The cello is often played with a bow that has been prepared with various objects, such as paper or metal, to create a rasping or scraping sound. The performer is also called upon to use harmonics, glissandi, and other techniques to create unusual timbres and effects. Despite its modernist tendencies, "Tocar" is a deeply expressive and emotional work. Saariaho's use of extended techniques and unconventional sounds is always in service of the music's overall emotional arc, and the piece is marked by a sense of yearning and introspection that is both haunting and beautiful.

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