Ivan Jevtic: Mélodies interrompues for Cello Solo; Xenia Jankovic, Cello

Ivan Jevtic: Mélodies interrompues for Cello Sollo (Ed. A. Leduc, Paris)
from the CD, PGP Belgrade, 1998

Composer says about the piece:
In Mélodies Interrompues (1979), the basic principle could be described at the splitting, stopping and a new beginning of a musical thought. My intention was to present the cello as a rich, multi-layered, multi-vocal instrument that can simultaneously play the melody and its accompaniment.

Ivan Jevtic about his music for cello:
There was an article about me in the papers back in 1980 entitled "In love with the Cello". And how exactly did I fall in love? What are the reasons for my lasting interest for cello – a constant source of inspiration for me? A Latin proverb says Navigare necesse est, and I would also say One must sing. Singing and human voice are to me the essence of music, and the cello comes right next to them, it is singing, singing eternally with a voice so captivating and warm, but also rising storms and human dramas. Performers play an important part in the life of every composer. They inspire him, give hope and reveal undreamed-of horizons. My first cello pieces were written for the great French cellist André Navarra, who supported me, criticized me and actually showed me how to compose for the cello. I was student in Paris at the time and spent many houres listening to his lessons. This personal contact inspired me to write Mélodies Intrompues. And then came the decisive meeting with cellist Xenia Jankovic. Many years of collaboration have resulted an numerous chamber and concertante compositions for “our” instrument. Xenia is source of much inspiration for me and our joint work has enriched and ennobled my art. The Second Sonata, the Cello-Symphony and "Le rêve d'un amoureux" are dedicated to her.