Spinner (2016)

In his virtuoso showcase for cellist Mariel Roberts, George Lewis combines finely detailed glissandi, rhythmic taps with a Superball, variable bow pressures, and harmonic arpeggios to portray the Fates, three sister goddesses in Greek mythology: Clotho, who spun the threads of life; Lachesis, who chose their lengths; Atropos, who cut the threads at death. Roberts commissioned Spinner, premiered its single movement at National Sawdust in New York City, and recorded it on the solo album Cartography.