Sollima: Violoncelles, Vibrez! | Fulvia Mancini, Massimiliano Martinelli, Hokkaido Youth Orchestra

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Composed in 1993 by the Italian cellist and composer Giovanni Sollima, "Violoncelles, vibrez!" ("Cellos, vibrate!") is a vivid, rhythmically driven work that has become one of the most performed contemporary pieces for cello ensemble and for two cellos with strings. The title quotes the exhortation of Sollima's teacher, the celebrated cellist and pedagogue Antonio Janigro, and the piece is dedicated to Janigro and to Sollima's fellow student Mario Brunello. Originally written for two solo cellos and string orchestra, it was soon arranged for ensembles of four, six, or eight cellos, highlighting the work's percussive drive and rich, layered sonorities.
The music unfolds as a single, propulsive movement built from insistent rhythmic cells, repeated patterns, and swirling melodic fragments that gradually accumulate intensity. Two solo cellos engage in a dynamic dialogue of rapid figuration, sliding glissandi, and syncopated accents, while the accompanying cellos provide a pulsating, often motoric foundation. Sollima blends classical technique with popular and world music elements, from repetitive ostinati to driving grooves and bold, almost vocal inflections, creating a sound world that feels both virtuosic and visceral.
With its relentless momentum, dramatic contrasts, and full use of the cello's range, the piece turns the instrument into a rhythmic, almost percussive force. In this version for eight cellos, it becomes a modern showcase for ensemble precision and expressive, singing power across a sea of cellos.