H110 Six Spolia (2025)

Instrumentation:
Solo Cello

Duration: 18’

Programme note:

Written in late 2025, the Six Spolia for solo cello were conceived to be played by Adrian Brendel who had given such tremendous performances of Serra-Sierra (with the expert accompanying of the pianist, Alasdair Beatson) that I felt I should thank him by writing these pieces. I decided to use the idea of an architectural form known as spolia, or repurposing, where pieces of random seeming masonry are reused to fill holes in walls for example. I have been using a similar process across several pieces of late and so it made sense to use it again here. I have taken fragments from recent pieces and repurposed them for these brief solos. The pieces that I have taken the fragments from are referenced in their titles. The first piece, -icón, takes its title from a recent orchestral piece called Bobalicón and I've used a fragment of material from the piece as a basis for this solo. The same process occurs in all the other pieces. The second piece, -obal-, also uses material from this piece. The third, -ordó-, uses a fragment from a recent organ piece, Tiento con bordón. The fourth, -tado, also comes from the fragment of an organ piece, Tiento desatado, meaning unleashed. The fifth, -trum, comes from an organ pedal solo, Rabieta, which means tantrum. I have taken the four letters from the English translation. The final piece, -rond-, comes from another organ piece, Gironde.

Six Spolia is dedicated to Adrian Brendel in friendship and with admiration.

S.H.
29 March 2026