Cello Suite No. 2, Prelude by Bach
Xander C.
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I started playing the cello when I was five, but I found my voice on the cello when I started playing Bach. Bach has always been an important part of any cellist's repertoire, and he was a profound composer. Most people are quite familiar with Bach’s first cello suite, often featured in movies, at weddings and the other moments where people are looking for a piece that has sentimental impact. The second suite however, is somewhat of a hidden gem. When performing it, I feel as if the first three notes are an invitation for a listener to join the performer in a dance that builds slowly and pulls at your heartstrings as it evolves. Through this dance, a story unfolds. It waxes and wanes then comes to a grand pause, almost like a turning of the page. The bow drops back in, and the melody races up and cascades down, meanders through contemplative moments and resolves in five chords that bring the piece to the end in a way that is very satisfying to both the musician and the audience. When I play this piece, I get lost in it and it takes me a second to return to the real world. I can lift the mask that I have to wear on a daily basis and fully express my feelings through this amazing piece.
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To me, creativity is curiosity and exploration. It is an experiment in self reflection that takes you to unexpected places and teaches you things about yourself along the way. Through creativity we connect, reflect, explore, solve problems and grow.
