Cellist Seth Parker Woods: Bach Sarabandes and Responses

Celebrated by The Guardian as “a cellist of power and grace” possessing “mature artistry and willingness to go to the brink,” two-time GRAMMY®-nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods explores three centuries of music for cello centering around identity, narrative storytelling, and polyphonic composition for a monophonic voice. “Thus Spoke Their Verse” is an evening anchored by three Sarabandes from the first, second, and fifth Bach suites. Woods has expressed that for him, the Sarabandes of any suite have always felt the most human and contemplative portions of the work – making them ideal departure points used throughout this concert as opportunities to step from a familiar experience toward the possibility of something radically new.

Program
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, IV. Sarabande
Perkinson Lamentations, “Black Folk/Song Suite”: III. Calvary Ostinato
Scelsi Maknongan
Fredrick Gifford Difficult Grace
Bach Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008, IV. Sarabande
Nathalie Joachim Dam Mwen Yo
Alvin Singleton Argoru II
Monty Adkins Winter Tendrils
Bach Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011, IV. Sarabande
Conrad Beck Drei Epigramme für solo cello
I. Moderato
II. Tranquillo
Carlos Simon Between Worlds
Chinary Ung Khse Buon