Cello Unlocked

Bryan Hayslett’s debut solo album Cello Unlocked is a foray into the synthesis of language and melody, blurring the lines between speech and music in new ways. The album is a bold declaration of the instrument’s – and the player’s – versatility, extending beyond classical boundaries into the realms where music and language converge. From pieces that involve the cellist singing to transcriptions that transform spoken word into melodic lines, each work delves into the inherent musicality of language and the rhythmic underpinnings of speech.

Each composer was chosen for their unique ability to interpret text through the cello. From Pulitzer-Prize winner Caroline Shaw to avant-garde vocal legend Joan La Barbara, the album’s seven composers put the vocalizing cellist through his paces. From Thomas Tallis and a Venezuelan folk song, fantasies inspired by Alan Lomax recordings, a musing on domestic abuse, and a chili recipe, the subjects cover a lot of ground. The album marks Hayslett’s debut as an artist committed to pushing the avant-garde while staying rooted in tradition, offering a fresh perspective on both new and established musical forms.

 

Live Performance Videos

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Kareem Roustom Hanjale for solo cello (2013) Duration ca. 12 minutes Hanjale: Program notes Hanjale', which means swagger in Arabic, derives its name from the colloquial saying "Awal al-raqs hanjale" (the dance begins with a swagger). The saying can be interpreted to mean that larger actions begin with small moves or gestures. Depending on the context, this Arabic saying can allude to both positive and negative outcomes from simple beginnings. This work uses an ornate rhythmic cycle with seventeen beats as a frame work for its rhythmic structure and a four note motif as a basis for its melodic and harmonic structure. Originally composed for solo mandolin, this arrangement takes advantage of the cello's expressive range.