Carsten Japsert's Debut Brings Works to Cello Ensemble

It's a great day when we are able to bring a new editor on board! German cellist Carsten Jaspert is the latest to join the ranks of exceptional musicians that have arranged, edited, and composed music for Ovation Press. Passionate and proud of the musical landscape in his homeland of Germany, Mr. Jaspert is currently a member of the cello section of the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hannover.

To begin his collaboration with Ovation Press, Carsten Jaspert has made two excellent arrangements of works by composers new to our cello ensemble catalog.

About Moszkowski's Guitarre arranged for cello quartet

The German-Polish-Jewish composer, pianist and teacher is not one of the most often-played, but his musical output contains several little gems that reward those who take the time to uncover them. Guitarre, one of two piano pieces published in 1888, is one of these gems. The original work was composed for cello and piano, though discovery later on by Pablo de Sarasate led to a collaboration between the two to create a duo for violin and piano. Now alongisde those we can add a version for cello quartet, available exclusively from Ovation Press.

About Strauss' Pizzicato Polka arranged for cello octet

A collaborative effort by Johann Strauss II and his brother Josef Strauss, the Pizzicato Polka is one of the most famous polkas by the Waltz King. Cast in this arrangement for cello octet, it is a suitable encore for a cello ensemble concert and is played pizzicato throughout!

About the Editor – Carsten Jaspert

Carsten Jaspert was born in 1966 in Hüls, Germany. He studied celo with Jürgen Wolf in Düsseldorf and Rudolf von Tobel in Bern. Mr. Jaspert has participated in several notable festivals including the Tanglewood Young Artists Instrumental Program in 1984 and the Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival Orchester with Sergiu Celibidache in 1988. From 1987-1988 he was Principal Cellist of the Folkwang Kammerorchester in Essen. Since 1989 he has been a member of the cello section of the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Hannover.

Outside of his orchestral career Mr. Jaspert was a member of and arranger for the Cello Quartet “Die Rheinischen Cellisten” from 1998 – 2000. In 2000 the cello section of the NDR Radiophilharmonie founded the Cello Octet “Celli Family” for which Mr. Jaspert regularly writes arrangements. Since 2005 he has been the cellist in the Helian Quartett.