{"id":100494,"date":"2023-11-22T12:45:27","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T17:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=100494"},"modified":"2023-11-25T15:30:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T20:30:16","slug":"interview-cellist-rufus-cappadocia-talks-finding-musical-inspiration-roots-instrument","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2023\/11\/22\/interview-cellist-rufus-cappadocia-talks-finding-musical-inspiration-roots-instrument\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Cellist Rufus Cappadocia Talks About Finding Musical Inspiration In The Roots Of The Instrument"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cellist
Cellist Rufus Cappadocia (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canadian-American cellist Rufus Cappadocia will be returning to his roots in Hamilton, Ontario for a concert on November 25. His solo performance will include his own compositions and improvisations, along with his words on the various musical forms and genres that are interwoven into his work.<\/p>\n

You could say that curiosity, and a dive into the history of his instrument, took his musical career from Western classical traditions to a different notion of classical music entirely.<\/p>\n

Education & Early Years<\/h3>\n

\u201cI grew up in Hamilton,\u201d he recalls. That\u2019s where he began to play the cello by age three. At the age of five, he began studying with the then Principal Cellist of the Hamilton Philharmonic, a musician who had performed extensively in his native Czechoslovakia before that.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a big, beautiful, Slavic sound and soul,\u201d he says, and credits him with a solid early foundation in music.<\/p>\n

From there, Rufus studied at Montr\u00e9al\u2019s McGill University. He was immersed in the world of Western classical music during his studies, and that\u2019s how he performed for his teachers there. On stage, however, he says he found it stressful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t really feel authentic,\u201d he says, likening it to speaking a different language. \u201cAlthough, there’s definitely a lot of passion and technique [I got from that training],\u201d he acknowledges.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019m taking a cue from Bach and playing with contemporary dance forms.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Busking In Europe<\/h3>\n

Rufus left for Europe, where he busked on the streets of various capitals, including Seville, Spain, and Paris. He added the rhythms of flamenco music to his bowed cello technique.<\/p>\n

In his performance, Rufus began to work with improvisation, a practice that\u2019s been removed from Western classical music practice \u2014 but, as he points out, was actually common during the time when much of the repertoire was composed. \u201cIn the classical era, there was all kinds of improvisation that was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

His says his performing and composing practice is actually more in line with the way music was produced centuries ago. \u201cIt’s always been part of a continuum between improvisation and composers,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat I learned from playing Bach, from playing Bach Suites, I learned to play a prelude, and then innovate on contemporary dance forms.\u201d He points out that the Sarabande, a very popular 18th century dance form, descends from the zarabanda, a type of dance thought to have migrated to southern Spain from West Africa. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m taking a cue from Bach and playing with contemporary dance forms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Performing on the streets of Europe, and trying to compete\/fit in with musicians in various genres, Rufus realized he wanted to access a lower end to the instrument. His cello is a five-string version which adds a bass string.<\/p>\n

\u201cI play a five-string instrument,\u201d he says. \u201cIt allows me to function both as a bass player and a cellist.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added a pick-up system that allows him to play either acoustically or with amplified volume.<\/p>\n

It was on the streets of Paris that Rufus says he first met French cellist Vincent S\u00e9gal, a performer who is also known for his cross-cultural collaborations. S\u00e9gal\u2019s friends called him over to hear Rufus play on the sidewalk, and the two have stayed in touch.<\/p>\n

Prayer, from his 2008 release Songs for Cello:<\/p>\n