By John Lewis/arr. by David Sanford | For Two Cellos | 7′

Title: Blues in A Minor
Composer: John Lewis
Arranger: David Sanford
Year Composed: 1973/2010
Instrumentation: For Two Cellos
Duration: 7′
Format: Full Score + 2 Parts
Page Size: Letter
Catalog Number: OM0310

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From the arranger:

Blues in A Minor (1973) is from the Modern Jazz Quartet’s Blues on Bach album. Accordingly, composer and pianist John Lewis—one of the composers who most successfully worked in the style that Gunther Schuller would call Third Stream—composed it as a passacaglia in 12-bar blues form. The melody modulates through a short set of sequences to the closely related key of F major for a bravura bass solo by Percy Heath before returning to the original key for a reprise of the head and final bass cadenza. This two-cello version is inspired by the powerful austerity of the work, the quartet’s intuitive elegance, and Heath’s virtuosity and great humor.

Commission/Dedication: To Matt Haimovitz and UCCELLO.
Premiere: First performed May 8, 2010 at Club Helsinki in Hudson, NY by Matt Haimovitz and UCCELLO.
Recording: This work is recorded on Oxingale Records’ and PENTATONE Oxingale Series‘ album Meeting of the Spirits, performed by Matt Haimovitz and UCCELLO. Click here for the listening options.