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Primary Colors

by Nina C. Young

Instrumentation
Cello
Composed
2023
Duration
5'
Publisher
Peermusic Classical / composer (no edition listed yet)
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About this piece

A five-minute piece for solo cello, one of seven new works commissioned by the Canadian cellist Cameron Crozman for his album Ricercari (ATMA Classique, 2023), which pairs them with Domenico Gabrielli's ricercars of around 1689, the earliest known solo cello pieces. In her note for the album, Young says it was the first piece she finished after the birth of her daughter in 2022, and that it draws on the sudden, bold and contrasting gestures of a newborn and on finding wonder in very small things.

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.