In 2022, I began a project of arranging female composed historical pieces for unaccompanied cello that were originally written for other instruments. The result is about 30 minutes of music by women composers from different musical eras, mostly Baroque, bookended with selections from the Medieval, Renaissance and 19th century Classical periods. There is very little “invention” on my part in these arrangements. There are no reharmonizations, or anything of the sort. As much as possible, I stayed true to the actual notes (transpositions notwithstanding) that the composer wrote, and deliberately chose pieces for which that was possible to achieve with the cello. The arranging process could be thought of as “subtractive,” in that I sometimes subtracted some notes, but in most cases, added very few (or none). I should also stress that in no way are these arrangements attempts to imagine what the composers might have done had they originally written their music for this instrument. It is my hope that the emotional essence of the pieces will shine through and that the medium of unaccompanied cello will serve them in good stead.

Anonymous Benedictine Nun - Praeludium from Klagenfurt Manuscript (C. 1680s) solo cello version

Teresa Carreño - Reverie-Impromptu (C.1860s) solo cello version