Conversations

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Rohan de Saram is a prominent cellist in contemporary music, having studied under Gaspar Cassadó and Pablo Casals in the 1950s. With nearly sixty years as a soloist, chamber musician, and member of the Arditti Quartet, he has closely collaborated with many significant composers, actively participating in the evolution of contemporary music. Beyond his musical accomplishments, de Saram possesses a deep understanding of various cultural music aspects, performance practices, and interests in literary, philosophical, and spiritual questions. Conversations with musicologist Joachim Steinheuer explore de Saram's career, beginning with his childhood in Sri Lanka, studies in Florence, Siena, and Puerto Rico, and his influential time in Oxford during the 1960s. The later chapters focus on his 28-year tenure with the Arditti Quartet, examining its diverse repertoire, technical challenges, and rehearsal methods, as well as his collaborations after leaving the Quartet in 2005. Additional chapters delve into contemporary composition, his work with Asian and European composers, improvisation, and the intersection of spirituality and music. Joachim Steinheuer, a musicology professor at Ruprecht Karls-Universität Heidelberg, has published extensively on various composers and has been involved in contemporary music festivals.