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Programme Note

Detto II for cello and chamber ensemble was composed in 1972 for the Russian cellist Natalia Shakovskaya. The Italian word 'detto' ('said') in the title of this one-movement piece refers to the narrative character of the music. The particular expressivity of the work derives principally from the quarter-tone glissandi of the solo instrument. As the music progresses, it develops from the opening meditative immobility to a dramatic, impulsive middle section. Finally the work dies away in contemplative peace. This conception corresponds to the idea of a gradual extension of the melodic progress of the solo cello from quarter-tones to several octaves and then back to quarter-tones. This type of compositional format gives the work a wave-shaped dynamic structure. Detto II is also distinguished by colorful exploitation of the extensive percussion section. The coda contains an especially interesting music solution: the cello theme, almost inaudible, dies away gradually, accompanied by ppp comments from the flute, celesta, glockenspiel, crotales and higher strings.