Cello Concerto No. 1

Composed for New York-based cellist Maxine Neuman. The opening Allegro is a showcase for the technical and expressive range of the cello. Movement II Largo is a study in contrasts among the dark, the nervously agitated, and the ethereal. A majestic introduction precedes the concluding Allegro. The concerto closes in a surprisingly subdued, contemplative, even melancholic mood. This work is finely crafted with a modestly demanding orchestration compared to the complexity and technical difficulty of many contemporary concertos.