Praeludium for Cello Solo Op/69
Neo Romantic music for cello
Julia MacLaine cello

Julia MacLaine wrote:
“There is something deeply rewarding about having both old and new music on your music stand. By
pretending that old music is new, it becomes easier to find freedom from tradition, and to discover
fresh ideas and new meanings. By imagining that new music is old, a certain reverence creeps in, a
trust in the composer, and a feeling of devotion to their intent.
But how to express on one CD one’s roots in classical music, one’s love of Bach, and
simultaneously offer a sense of excitement for the music being written today? I remembered fondly
a performance at Juilliard given by Bonnie Hampton: she played the six Bach Preludes interspersed
with contemporary works for cello. I took my inspiration from her, and commissioned six Canadian
composers to write pieces for solo cello in response to the Preludes from the Bach Cello Suites.

Airat Ichmouratov’s Praeludium in G major for cello solo Op. 69 is a neo-romantic work, offering
up great ocean-like swells in response to the G Major Bach Prelude. He captures the lyrical aspects
of the Bach by winding melodic lines out of the upper notes in the famous broken arpeggios, and
adds a fair dose of virtuosic intensity as well”