Jasper Tucker is a cello and piano student at Bates College. He has been playing cello for over 13 years, and began playing piano in the second semester of first year of college. His studies in music focus on performance for cello and piano, as well as music theory and composition. Other than music, Jasper studies game design and development, of which music theory and composition is part.

The piano pieces chosen reflect Jasper’s interest in game music, and its ability to convey artistic themes and moods. City of Tears presents an ambient, atmospheric, and melancholy feel, fitting for its use in the 2017 game Hollow Knight. The third movement of Dianne Rahbee’s Piano Sonata No. 4 is highly expressive and emotive in its transitions between moods. Last Surprise is emblematic of its games lavish style and heavily jazz-focused soundtrack, with elements of improvisation and rhythmic bite.

The cello pieces chosen are both from the Romantic era. Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and wrote with both a Romantic and Classical expression. His cello sonata heavily makes use of the cello’s lowest string and achieves an incredibly deep, rich, and powerful sound. Saint-Saens was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist, who’s cello concerto serves a polished, neat, and elegant style.

Piano:

City of Tears, from Hollow Knight, Christopher Larkin, arranged by Stoh

Piano Sonata No. 4, Op. 128, III. Andante, Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee (b. 1938-)

Last Surprise, from Persona 5 byShoji Meguro, arranged by Mark Fowler (b. 1971)

Cello:

Sonata No. 1 in e minor, Op. 38 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Allegro non troppo    

Allegretto quasi Minuetto

Allegro

Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Allegro non troppo    

Allegretto non moto

Un peu moins vite

Molto allegro