| This powerful short work for solo Cello is based upon the theme 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' forming the last choral movement of the great work by J.S.Bach “The St. Matthew Passion” BWV 244 (1727). This present original work of Johnstone was composed as the concluding work in a programme dedicated to special celebrations surrounding 'St. Jacque's Way' (Camino de Santiago), an important pilgrim's route across all of north Spain leading to the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, but it has quickly become a well-respected piece of cello literature standing up in its own right as a recital work. In the space of eighteen months alone it has received more than twenty public performances. Although not primarily virtuoso, it never-the-less contains substantial technical difficulties which make it a sensible choice to be placed alongside other longer solo instrumental works, or as a highly-driven and effective 'encore' piece. These difficulties, however, should be quite surmountable to the intermediate to advanced cellist, and richly gains by seeming to the concert going public rather more complicated to perform than in fact it is! The language could be classified as being more romantic than baroque, reflecting that the idea has not been to write a period piece, but rather a more modern, intense work which can equally well show respect to Johann Sebastian Bach. The performance time is about four minutes. It is affectionately dedicated to the Spanish viola player and professor Fernando López Garcín who has so artistically and willingly participated in many projects with the composer. |