A Young Person's Guide to the Cello (aka RIP, Lynn Harrell)

[Thor 7,508]

Strangely, no previous thread on this piece that Williams wrote for Lynn Harrell in 2011. But I just now read on Facebook that Harrell has passed away, age 76.

 

One of the best cellists in the world, no doubt, and I really like the Williams piece. "Comical", but elegant. It has not been recorded for album, AFAIK, but now is certainly a good opportunity to do so.

 

Here's a video of Harrell performing it:

 

 

[WilliamsStarShip2282 308]

My god, what is happening to everyone. There was also a really cool documentary about him that had Andre Previn and Williams in it among many others, but I don't think its available.

[TownerFan 4,983]

A very sad loss. He was incredibly talented, and also a loving generous human being. He definitely was one of JW's favourite soloists, he performed with him several times, both in concert and in recordings (last time was just last year for the Anne-Sophie Mutter project).

 

A few years ago he also acted in a powerful short film titled Cello, playing the role of a cellist diagnosed with ALS and his battle with the sickness through music. The film features a very lovely score composed by Randy Kerber (one of JW's preferred piano players and also a fine orchestrator for people like James Horner), with cello solos performed by Lynn Harrell himself. The music is lovely, it has some Williams/Horner callbacks here and there.

 

 

 

https://www.cellomovie.com

[mrbellamy 6,287]

RIP Mr Harrell. Neat piece.

 

Idk why 1:36-1:48 sounds especially Williamsy to me. It’s reminding me of something.

[TownerFan 4,983]

1 hour ago, mrbellamy said:

Idk why 1:36-1:48 sounds especially Williamsy to me. It’s reminding me of something.

 

There are several moments throughout where Kerber used some Williams and Horner mannerisms (in a good way). It's lovely music.

 

 

[Marian Schedenig 8,199]

RIP. I wasn't familiar with Lynn Harrell, but he looks like John Williams himself in that video.

[Bespin 8,483]

Experts, can you suggest some scores with great Lynn Harrell passages?

[TownerFan 4,983]

12 hours ago, Bespin said:

Experts, can you suggest some scores with great Lynn Harrell passages?

 

I don't know if he ever did film scores as soloist. He certainly recorded with JW and Anne-Sophie Mutter for the Across the Stars album, on both The Chairman's Waltz and Prayer for Peace tracks.

 

He has recorded quite a lot of classical albums over the course of his career. Some of the most celebrated are the Tchaikovsky and Beethoven Piano Trios he did with Vladimir Ashkenazy and Itzhak Perlman in the early 1980s.

[Incanus 5,715]

RIP Mr Harrell. He seemed such a warm and sweet person and was a wonderful musician as well.

[Bespin 8,483]

Thanks, there's Elegy too:
 

We'll Paint You a Rainbow (2013, Nightengale Records, 887158373572) Music conducted by John Williams: Somewhere Over the Rainbow (performed by Christine Brewer); Music composed by John Williams: Elegy (performed by Lynn Harrell).

 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2868LWRTCgY4U5qAJb5l3I?si=PicoLrsxTMWJNXrDGTk3Og