Opus 122

Plainsong Variations (1999)

for Cello

Craig Hultgren, cello

Duration: 11 min.

Dedication: for Craig Hultgren

Publisher: Lauren Keiser Music Publishing

Performance materials available from the publisher.

Plainsong Variations (1999) for solo cello was written for and is dedicated to cellist Craig Hultgren. The work was inspired by his playing and musicianship. The work is single movement fantasy for unaccompanied cello which, as the title indicates, is a set of variations on a plainsong idea. However, it is unusual in two ways. Firstly, the “plainsong” idea used in the work is not an ancient Medieval plainsong but rather a recent melody, written by the composer in the traditional plainsong style with text in Latin based on Isaiah 40:11. Secondly, this work is not a set of variations in the traditional sense where each variation is presented in turn but rather the entire work consists of many variations and ideas based on the plainsong material, presented in a “fantasy” form.