There is an analysis about the makeup of sitcoms (though it can be applied to dramas as well), that four central characters generally fit into the archetypes of ‘matriarch’, ‘patriarch’, ‘craftsman’, and ‘clown’.

Mostly I just love the imagery and sound of the phrase ‘craftsmen and clowns’, and for me that’s reason enough to make it a title. If I were to apply these archetypes to the piece though: the cellist in this piece is generally a craftsman or craftswoman – constructing, weaving, shaping. Their music, however, is occasionally interrupted by, or co-existent with, something more primal, or mischievous.

Instrumentation:

solo cello

Duration:

13 mins

Commission:

Commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society through the generous support of an anonymous donor.

Performances:

16 June 2026
Nicolas Altstaedt
Aldeburgh Festival, Britten Studio, Snape, Suffolk, UK

UK premiere

19 April 2026

Nicolas Altstaedt
L’Auditori, Barcelona, Spain

World premiere