What Shall We Do
2023
A sort of concerto for transcription; the transcription being a recording of me improvising with two nine year old violinists who had just been learning the shanty “What shall we do with the drunken sailor”

The violinists are asked to subtly detune their instruments and to play in a ‘childlike way.’ It is important that ‘childlike’ does not mean ‘badly,’ as children typically try, with utmost sincerity, to play as well as they are able.

Aspen Contemporary Ensemble commission.

Ensemble

fl, cl (doubling b. cl), perc (1 player), pf, string quartet

10’30” 

© Isabella Gellis 2022 - 2024