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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Apparences I

by Ton de Leeuw

Instrumentation
Cello
Composed
1987
Duration
14'
Publisher
Donemus
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About this piece

Apparences I (1986–87) is a 14-minute solo for cello by Ton de Leeuw, dedicated to the cellist Monique Bartels. De Leeuw studied with Olivier Messiaen in Paris and had an early, lasting interest in non-Western music, which he studied with the ethnomusicologist Jaap Kunst; he taught for many years at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. The linked recording is a concert performance by Larissa Groeneveld in Splendor, Amsterdam, on 7 May 2016.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Professional

Left Hand

  • Complete command of the fingerboard.
  • Proficient thumb position across all strings.
  • Execute complex double stops and rapid trills precisely.
  • Fast scales and leaps with precise intonation and speed.
  • Apply expressive techniques (portamenti, micro‑adjusted intonation) tastefully.
  • Easily execute false harmonics.

Right Hand

  • Seamlessly blends martelé, spiccato, sautillé, legato & ricochet.
  • Meticulous bow distribution for sustained lines or rapid passages.
  • Clear pianissimo to controlled fortissimo.
  • Economical, efficient bow movement with smooth transitions.
  • Employ advanced effects (ponticello, bow effects) artistically.

Musicality

  • Focus on a deeply personal, communicative performance.
  • Make interpretive choices reflecting deep understanding of form, style & emotion.
  • Convey nuanced phrasing, wide dynamic range & a unique artistic voice.
  • Craft dramatic cadenzas/solos with rubato, tone & expressive timing.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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