New Directions Cello Festival - Virtual

*all times listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST)

10:00am-11:30am

Anil Eraslan

Workshop: Recipe for an Improvisation + An Exploration of the Microtonality of Turkish-Ottoman Music

Take your cello. Don’t forget your bow—it might come in handy, but who says you need to use it traditionally?

• 1 cello (seasoned to taste with rosin dust)
• 1 bow (optional garnish)
• A generous pinch of courage
• 2 cups of curiosity
• A handful of extended techniques (chopped finely or thrown in whole)
• A sprinkle of mistakes (don’t worry, they add texture)

We can mix these ingredients together with a simple recipe to uncover playful and accessible ways to create music, focusing on listening, interaction and spontaneity with a bonus of an introduction to the microtonality of Turkish-Ottoman music given by the wonderful Anil Eraslan.

(workshop will be followed by a 15-20 minute performance)

11:30am-1:00pm

Raphael Weinroth-Browne

Workshop: Exploring the Creative Possibilities of Alternate Tunings

Explore the endless creative possibilities of alternate tunings with metal cello virtuoso Raphael Weinroth-Browne. Take a deep dive into chord shapes and patterns that translate to a wide range of key centers and modes – a new vocabulary you can implement in your cello compositions. This workshop will provide you with the tools to maximize the potential of the cello as a solo instrument.

(workshop will be followed by a 15-20 minute performance)

1:00-2:00pm BREAK

 

2:00pm-3:30pm

Clemens Sainitzer
Workshop: Contemporary and Alternative Pizzicato Techniques

In this workshop, different pizzicato and percussive techniques on the cello will be discussed, demonstrated and explored. Clemens will show both right hand and left hand techniques and how combining the two can lead to very interesting results.

From chordal playing to pizzicato patterns to utilizing the body of the cello as a percussion instrument, Clemens will share many techniques and ideas that he has been developing over the last several years which have given him a distinct sound and artistic identity.

(workshop will be followed by a 15-20 minute performance)

3:30-5:00pm

Yi-Mei Templeman aka Yeemz

Workshop: Chord Voicing and Songwriting Workshop

In this workshop, cellists will explore how to craft compelling lyrics while using the cello’s standard tuning as a songwriting asset to create a backdrop of unique chord voicings and textures.

Through interactive songwriting exercises, the group will experiment together with new lyrical perspectives and strategies to reinvigorate experienced cellist-songwriters or inspire new ones!

(workshop will be followed by a 15-20 minute performance)

5:00pm-?

NDCF Online Afterparty, Open Mic and Cello Hang