MUSIC OF THE MONTH IS A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF RPL’S MUSIC-RELATED PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.
Gellman Room Concerts
The 2021-2022 Gellman Room Concert season is here! You can always watch past concerts on RPL’s YouTube page.
SATURDAY, September 4, 2021, at 2:00 pm:
“Going Off Script: The Ornamented Suites for Cello” – Internationally-acclaimed cellist Juliana Soltis breaks with two hundred years of tradition to revive the long-lost practice of spontaneous improvisation in J.S. Bach’s beloved cello suites. Performed entirely on historical instruments, including the rarely-heard violoncello piccolo, this is an interactive concert experience you won’t soon forget.
SATURDAY, September 18, 2021, at 3:00 pm.
The Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia presents “Our Places” with Christopher Whitley, violin, Kumiko Sakamoto, violin, Luis Bellorin, viola, and Titilayo Ayangade, cello, of the Thalea String Quartet. *Please note the time is 3:00 pm
From Our Collections
Johann Sebastian Bach’s cello suites are familiar to almost everyone–whether they realize it or not. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major is practically what people imagine when they think of “refined classical music.” Yo-Yo Ma’s recordings of the suites are more as-written than Juliana Soltis’ will be, but it’s fun to compare various performances. Judging by the number of due dates stamped on the back of the record sleeve, Ma’s 1983 recordings were an incredibly popular item!
Follow along with Ma’s performance using this score, part of RPL’s set of Bach’s complete works.
If all of this great cello music makes you want to give the instrument a try, you can use RPL’s copy of Maurice Eisenberg’s Cello Playing of Today from 1957. However, you might want to find a contemporary teacher to show you what has changed or developed in playing during the past 60-plus years!
Staff Playlist
Lisa C. says a few of her favorite classical pieces are:
Laura P. and Ben H. always love:
Clay D. fondly recalls these:
Nicole B. says that video game soundtracks are the perfect background music for studying or reading (she recommends Skyrim!):
