Program Note:

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Commissioned by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Home-Body, Home-Bach was written during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Because of the lockdown, the piece was written entirely in my apartment in Houston, TX, specifically at one exact spot—one small corner in the living room. Every musician’s life has been altered—all social engagements including rehearsals and performances have moved virtually, and the pandemic has forced all of us to become home-bodies. The requirement for the commission was to write a 1 minute work based on the music of JS Bach, scored for solo cello. I used the well-known tune from Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (BWV 147) as the basis of the piece and presented the theme in my own way.

– Nicky Sohn