Paul Dooley - GRADUS, for solo cello, mov. 7 - Paul Dwyer, cello

Paul Dwyer's first dissertation recital at the University of Michigan, March 13, 2010.

Gradus (2009) was commissioned by the Michigan Music Teachers Association and written for cellist Paul Dwyer. It was first performed at the MMTA State Conference in October 2009.

Gradus was written in honor of Paul Dwyer's first cello teacher, Walther Fuchs. The title comes from the famous treatise on counterpoint, Gradus ad Parnassum, by Johann Fux. This title, translated as Steps to Parnassum, represents the establishment of the teaching method; one may follow the steps and someday reach enlightenment, or, Parnassum.

The seven movements of Gradus play off Fux's teaching of voice leading, dissonance treatment and contour. Gradus follows one possible path of the proverbial student musician, composer or performer, through struggle and reward. New plateaus are reached and then forgotten in the endless pursuit of mastery.

The similarity of Fuchs and Fux, both admired teachers, one in cello and one in composition and counterpoint, seemed perfect for the collaborative backdrop between a student cellist, Paul Dwyer, and a student composer, myself.

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Music

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