World-renowned Afro-Latina composer, conductor, and educator Tania Leon (b 1943) has composed for nearly every classical genre. Her music is colorful, complex and substantial, with elements of jazz, gospel music, and Latin styles. In 2021, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her orchestral work ''Stride''.
Leon's set of ''Four Pieces for Violoncello Solo'' (1981) is a whirlwind of energetic rhythms, kaleidoscopic color, and extended techniques. At its center is a plaintive song written in memory of her father. For advanced players.