cello Archives — Joseph Sowa

Double Refraction by a Uniaxial Crystal

“. . . Light traveling through such an anisotropic medium can exhibit double refraction or birefringence, in which an unpolarized incident light ray splits into two polarized rays with mutually perpendicular planes of vibration.” — Wolfram Demonstrations Project Instrumentation: cello and piano Duration: 5 minutes Premiere: 8 March 2015 by Geoffrey Burleson, piano, and David Russell, cello Ordering: Please use my contact form […]

Ginger

“Because ginger had to be imported from Asia, it remained a relatively expensive spice. Nevertheless, it was still in great demand. … [Eventually] it became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper.” — The Healing Power of Herbs and Spices Instrumentation: string quartet Duration: 12 minutes Premiere: 6 December 2014 by the […]

Gorre and Daphetid

Over 30 years, John Whitby Allen constructed what some consider the greatest model railroad ever made, the “Gorre and Daphetid.” Ten days after Allen died from a heart attack in 1973, his house caught fire, destroying his life’s work. Instrumentation: piano trio Duration: 4 minutes Recording: read by the New York Piano Trio Performance History: Dance premiere, 31 March and 1 April 2011 Press: ‘New Works […]

For the Beauty of the Earth

A concert arrangement of the classic hymn Instrumentation: high voice, cello, and piano Duration: 3 minutes Difficulty: Medium Music: Conrad Kocher, arr. Joseph Sowa Text: Folliott Pierpoint Themes: beauty, gratitude, praise Recordings: American Grace (Charity Tillemann-Dick, Joela Jones, and Richard Weiss) Ordering: Copies may be purchased at holysheetmusic.com. Commissioned by Charity Tillemann-Dick for her album American Grace. The album debuted no. 1 on the Billboard® “Traditional Classical” […]

Abide With Me, ’Tis Eventide

In this setting, the hymn conveys a quiet confidence. Instrumentation: bassoon (or cello) and piano Duration: 5 minutes Difficulty: Medium Music: “Welcome Guest,” Harrison Millard, arr. Joseph Sowa Ordering: Hard Copy Score and Part: $9.99 PDF Score and Part: $4.99

Kingsfold

An introspective, expansive arrangement suitable for concert or solemn occasions. Instrumentation: cello and piano Duration: 5 minutes Difficulty: Medium-hard Music: “Kingsfold,” arr. Joseph Sowa Texts: “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem,” “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” “If You Could Hie to Kolob,” etc. Ordering: Hard Copy Score and Part: $9.99 PDF Score and Part: $4.99