Kristoffer To's In the Distance is written for James Whittle. It is completed on 11 September 2013. Revised in March 2017.
Movement I was first performed on 13 February 2013 at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, York, UK by James Whittle. The first public performance was performed by James Whittle at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York, UK at the Chimera Lunchtime Concert on 14 June 2013. The World Première of In the Distance was given by Hojung Kim in Tongyeong, Korea as part of the ISCM World Music Days 2016, Tongyeong International Music Festival on 30 March 2016. The Hong Kong Première was given by Hojung Kim in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong at the Classics To Moderns Concert on 25 August 2016. The Seoul Première was given by Hojung Kim at Ilshin Hall, Seoul, Korea on 31 March 2017.
The gestation period for this cello piece was somewhat lengthy. The first sketches are dated back to January 2013 and the last movement was completed shortly after the summer of that year. It is essentially a three-movement work separated by two short interludes. All movements of In the Distance show a vast contrast in mood. The overall feeling of the piece is intended to have written with a lot of freedom. Whilst the rhythm appears precise it is intended to have a spontaneous nature that floats across the suggested tempo and pulse. Movement I starts with a four-note figure C – D♭ – G# (A♭) – A. This is extremely memorable as it is not any ordinary theme; thus far the cellist has already touched upon different playing methods (arco, pizzicato), and called for sul ponticello, glissando and harmonics. The whole piece is based on this rather mysterious four-note figure.
Movement II starts with an arco note low C (a reference to the opening of the work) but here it is different: it is accompanied by left hand pizzicato. Soon after, fast unmeasured semiquavers took over this for the rest of the movement. The fast passage work is interrupted several times, giving a rhapsodic feeling. The last movement is a further development of the theme.
A variety of extended techniques are used in this work: playing as high as possible on certain strings on the cello, different types of pizzicato (secco, laissez vibrer tie), strumming (pizz. alla chitarra) and ricochet effect. I wanted to push the technical limits of the cello, and explore boundaries and writing at the very edge of the playable.
In the Distance has gained Diploma of Merit in the 16th Edition of the Tournoi International de Musique (Italy).
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Movement I was first performed on 13 February 2013 at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, York, UK by James Whittle. The first public performance was performed by James Whittle at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York, UK at the Chimera Lunchtime Concert on 14 June 2013. The World Première of In the Distance was given by Hojung Kim in Tongyeong, Korea as part of the ISCM World Music Days 2016, Tongyeong International Music Festival on 30 March 2016. The Hong Kong Première was given by Hojung Kim in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong at the Classics To Moderns Concert on 25 August 2016. The Seoul Première was given by Hojung Kim at Ilshin Hall, Seoul, Korea on 31 March 2017.
The gestation period for this cello piece was somewhat lengthy. The first sketches are dated back to January 2013 and the last movement was completed shortly after the summer of that year. It is essentially a three-movement work separated by two short interludes. All movements of In the Distance show a vast contrast in mood. The overall feeling of the piece is intended to have written with a lot of freedom. Whilst the rhythm appears precise it is intended to have a spontaneous nature that floats across the suggested tempo and pulse. Movement I starts with a four-note figure C – D♭ – G# (A♭) – A. This is extremely memorable as it is not any ordinary theme; thus far the cellist has already touched upon different playing methods (arco, pizzicato), and called for sul ponticello, glissando and harmonics. The whole piece is based on this rather mysterious four-note figure.
Movement II starts with an arco note low C (a reference to the opening of the work) but here it is different: it is accompanied by left hand pizzicato. Soon after, fast unmeasured semiquavers took over this for the rest of the movement. The fast passage work is interrupted several times, giving a rhapsodic feeling. The last movement is a further development of the theme.
A variety of extended techniques are used in this work: playing as high as possible on certain strings on the cello, different types of pizzicato (secco, laissez vibrer tie), strumming (pizz. alla chitarra) and ricochet effect. I wanted to push the technical limits of the cello, and explore boundaries and writing at the very edge of the playable.
In the Distance has gained Diploma of Merit in the 16th Edition of the Tournoi International de Musique (Italy).
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