Spinning Song (2024)

For the last fifteen years, cellist Nicholas Canellakis has not only been a great friend but an artistic muse for my original compositions. I have written several works for him, most recently Spinning Song. This piece is a brief, evocative, and virtuosic tribute that joyfully commemorates the depth of our unique friendship. The concept behind the title draws from the tradition of naming musical pieces after spinning, a motif often mirrored in pianistic patterns that emulate the turning of a spinning wheel. Here I envision the journey of life as a continuous cycle, where a cherished friend accompanies us through its various phases. This narrative invokes a comforting familiarity and a sense of belonging. Spinning Song was commissioned by Coastal Concerts for their 25th anniversary season and premiered in April 2024.

- Michael Stephen Brown