Cello Counterpoint is a composition forcello and pre-recorded tape by the American composerSteve Reich. The work was jointly commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation in theLibrary of Congress, theRoyal Conservatory of The Hague, andLeiden University for the cellistMaya Beiser. It was given its world premiere by Beiser on October 18, 2003 at theKrannert Center for the Performing Arts.[1][2] The piece was a finalist for the 2004Pulitzer Prize for Music.[3]
Cello Counterpoint has a duration of roughly 11 minutes and is composed in threemovements:
The composition is scored for eight cellos and can either be performed by a solo cello, with the seven other parts played on a pre-recorded tape, or by a cellooctet. In the score program notes, Reich described the piece as one of the most difficult he had ever written, noting "extremely tight, fast moving rhythmic relationships not commonly found in the cello literature."[1]
Reviewing a recording of theCello Counterpoint, Ivan Moody ofGramophone wrote, "Beiser manages to make the eight parts sound very often as though they were one gigantic humming, strumming instrument, and while at times Reich's contrapuntal chugging seems a little worthy, there's no doubt that this is a work of real substance (and one that must be extremely effective heard live)."[4] The work was similarly praised byAllan Kozinn ofThe New York Times.[5]
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