The darkening colors of autumn…the dark harmonies and plaintive tones of the cello
IN THE HISTORY OF BRILLIANT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, the cello ranks high. A descendant of the bass violin, it was invented by Italian luthiers in the 17th century, and based on a technical innovation: to make the instrument smaller, they wrapped gut strings with wire to augment the bass.
The cello’s musical roles expanded rapidly in the 18th century due to its more convenient size and versatility. Today, no western instrument has the emotional range and depth; from its foundational role in the orchestra and the string quartet, to its uncanny vocal emulations and profound solo flights…the cello seems to have no boundaries.
On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we feature the dark harmonies and plaintive tones of the cello, on an autumnal soundscape called “RUSSET and AMBER.” Music is by the late DAVID DARLING, MARTIN TILLMAN, HANS CHRISTIAN, MAYA BEISER, and ANGÉLE DUBEAU and LA PIETÀ.