So, I finished that cello solo. It was strange, after my first pass on it, which lacked rhythms and articulations and dynamics, all I did was add those things, make two held double-stops re-attack, and add a bit to one section that sounded a bit too much like the NBC theme (Eb, C, Ab in this case). The piece turned out to be nine minutes long, but only three pages. It’s very slow. But still, writing that much music in one pass with so little changing later, I’m a little suspicious of that. Anyway, I gave a copy to Marcus at his birthday party in DC last Saturday. He was pleased that I’d written him the piece he asked for, but I got this weird feeling. Giving a musician a piece of music as a present is a lot like giving someone work, all wrapped up with a bow. Anyway, I hope he likes it as much as I do, and I can’t wait to hear it.