This album was recorded at the Oosterkerk in Zeist, Netherlands, between July 8-11, 2019.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Michael Gordon titled the piece '8' because the number's shape resembles the rounded, gliding symbol of cellos playing together.
Composition History
Michael Gordon's '8' was commissioned by Cello Octet Amsterdam with support from Cello Biennale Amsterdam and November Music, premiering on October 20, 2018.
Performer Biography
Cello Octet Amsterdam is comprised of eight cellists: Alistair Sung, Claire Bleumer, Esther Torrenga, Geneviève Verhage, Rares Mihailescu, René van Munster, Sanne Bijker, and Sanne van der Horst.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Michael Gordon, the composer, aims for his works in this series to induce a quasi-meditative, almost ecstatic state in both the listener and the performer.
Compositional Technique
In '8', each cellist plays both the melody and the bass, switching between roles in a choreographed manner.
Compositional Technique
The piece '8' features sound traveling around the circle of cellists in both directions, creating a three-dimensional sound perspective.
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