Episode 116 — May 27, 2021
Marco-Adrián Ramos: “Alabanza suspendida o Canto” for cello
Performed by Aaron WolffCellist Aaron Wolff and composer Marco-Adrián Ramos describe Ramos’s piece, Alabanza suspendida o Canto, as “a sacred and profane journey from a river of light to a cathedral of sound.” The short but soulful work, which was written in 2016 at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, ventures between sweeping themes that link together and fall apart, eventually reaching a mysterious “long cadence” of open cello strings that roll from top to bottom and back again. The dramatic effects of the piece, like its striking harmonic glissandi, drive its bursting activity. Wolff performs the piece for the House Music series from his grandmother’s apartment in New York.
Wolff made his debut with Metropolis Ensemble just a few weeks ago, performing alongside the Argus Quartet for a concert of revolutionary songs by singer-songwriter Samora Pinderhughes. He connected with Argus Quartet and Metropolis through his friend, the violinist Clara Kim, who’s involved with both groups. And while his connection to Metropolis is only a recent one, he’s excited to work with the group after admiring their eclectic work for the past four years of living in New York.
Wolff chose to perform Alabanza suspendida o Canto for the House Music series to celebrate his collaborative relationship with Ramos, who he’s known since they were in school together. For him, the House Music series was the perfect place to showcase his friendship with Ramos, and to present a solo work by a living composer. Wolff originally performed Alabanza suspendida o Canto twice in 2017, and has returned to the piece this year for the House Music series and a solo recital he’ll be presenting in the coming weeks.
Notes by Vanessa Ague
House Music: Bite-sized concerts recorded at homes around the world
In 2020-21, we created a weekly video series featuring short-form concerts of newly-commissioned works, supporting 208 artists around the world during the pandemic.