Written for Julian Lloyd Webber, who premièred the work in the Wigmore Hall in London in 1987, the cello fantasy differs from many of the other fantasies for solo instruments in two respects. First, unlike the others, it was written for a specific, established performer, not as an examination piece designed to test the performer. Second, it is considerably longer than its forebears, running some seventeen minutes in seven discrete sections.

Arnold's writing for cello demonstrates his intimate understanding of the instrument, making great use of the instrument's cantabile abilities as well as exploiting the capacity to produce unique sounds in its glissandi and pizzicato. This is one of his most intensely personal works and is incredibly austere in nature, stripping away all fripperies from the music to lay bare the artist's soul.

© All Music Guide

Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.