cello21c

Written especially for cellist Keith Tempest, Oligos comes from being in a place that is neither here nor there, an ‘almost’ period of restless waiting to transition to a new place that is strongly desired. The piece encapsulates the emotional journey experienced while being in this ‘almost’ place; the plaintive phrases of the cello moving into a more expressive melody at the beginning attempt to express the feeling of melancholy and sadness experienced when stuck in this place of no direction.

As the piece moves on, the desire and painful longing for the soon coming new place is expressed through a restless rising cello line followed by an impassioned climax, supported by anguished chords in the piano. This theme returns later on in the piece but in a higher register for the cello, expressing a heightened sense of desperation, inner conflict and longing.

The piece ends with a final cry from the cello and ends on an unresolving D against the piano’s C Minor chord, both instruments fading away into nothing as one resolves to wait in this ‘neither here nor there’ place a little longer, until it is time to move on.

The word ‘Oligos’ in Ancient Greek means ‘almost’.

Performed by Keith Tempest (cello) and Barbara Murray (piano)

Watch the second performance here.

composerbiography: LoisWyatt

Lois is a composer based in Bath who specialises in writing for chamber ensembles. Her work explores the use of pitch, syncopated rhythms and texture and also varying concepts behind each piece.

She is currently studying for a Masters in composition at Bath Spa University. Lois has been commissioned to write for a number of chamber groups including Plus Minus, Scapegoat, Trio Atem and the specialist new music group of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kokoro. Her work has been performed in various venues across Bath and Bristol including Bath Abbey, The Holburne Museum, The Royal West of England Academy, Dartington Hall, St George’s Concert Hall and Bristol Cathedral. Her work has also been broadcast on BBC Radio.

Lois has also been involved in a wide range of collaborations from working with members from the Pump Room Trio and Bath Philharmonia Orchestra to writing music for the Bath based charity The Trauma Recovery Centre and also working with film and dance.