Rufus Cappadocia
Encyclopedia
Rufus Cappadocia is a Canadian-American
cellist
. He is best known for his multiculturally-influenced recordings and performances on a modified cello. He has released albums in collaboration with guitarist David Fiuczynski
and singer/songwriter Bethany Yarrow.
in Montreal, Quebec where he spent much of his spare time studying sounds and music from lesser-known musical traditions in the University's ethno-musicology department. He left school, and traveled to the South of France and to Spain, where he played as a street musician. In his travels, Cappadocia continued to pick up new sounds and ethnic styles, which he blended into his own.
Partly to improve his ability to compete with other street musicians Cappadocia decided to "add a bass register" to his cello. He left Europe, and is now based in New York. His musical style blends together "the similarities between seemingly diverse music forms such as blues, Sufi, Middle Eastern and even Gregorian chant. To him they are all compatible, microtonal modes of music."
Cappadocia's past collaborations have included participation in the jazz group, The Paradox Trio and the World Music group Trance Mission
. He has also produced CDs with guitarist David Fiuczynski and singer/songwriter Bethany Yarrow.
Canadian-American
A Canadian American is someone who was born or someone who grew up in Canada then moved to the United States. The term is particularly apt when applied or self-applied to people with strong ties to Canada, such as those who have lived a significant portion of their lives in, or were educated in,...
cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
. He is best known for his multiculturally-influenced recordings and performances on a modified cello. He has released albums in collaboration with guitarist David Fiuczynski
David Fiuczynski
David "Fuze" Fiuczynski is an American guitarist, best known as the leader of the Screaming Headless Torsos and David Fiuczynski's KiF, and as a member of Hasidic New Wave...
and singer/songwriter Bethany Yarrow.
Biography
Cappadocia was raised in Hamilton, Ontario. He began playing cello at the age of 3. Cappadocia went on to study classically at McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal, Quebec where he spent much of his spare time studying sounds and music from lesser-known musical traditions in the University's ethno-musicology department. He left school, and traveled to the South of France and to Spain, where he played as a street musician. In his travels, Cappadocia continued to pick up new sounds and ethnic styles, which he blended into his own.
Partly to improve his ability to compete with other street musicians Cappadocia decided to "add a bass register" to his cello. He left Europe, and is now based in New York. His musical style blends together "the similarities between seemingly diverse music forms such as blues, Sufi, Middle Eastern and even Gregorian chant. To him they are all compatible, microtonal modes of music."
Cappadocia's past collaborations have included participation in the jazz group, The Paradox Trio and the World Music group Trance Mission
Trance Mission
Trance Mission is a World Music band with a jazz foundation, playing primal, techno-tribal music in a similar genre as Jon Hassell and Synaesthesia. Stephen Kent, the band's leader, is one of today's most respected and prolific didgeridoo performers, bringing the ancient Aboriginal sound into a...
. He has also produced CDs with guitarist David Fiuczynski and singer/songwriter Bethany Yarrow.
Rufus Cappadocia and David Fiuczynski
| Year | Title | Label | Tracks Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kif' | Fuzelicious Records | "Chinese GoGo" |
Rufus and Bethany
| Year | Title | Label | Tracks Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 900 Miles | HYENA Records | "900 Miles", "St. James Infirmary," "East Virginia" and "Linin' Track" |
Solo releases
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Songs for Cello | Velour Recordings Velour Recordings Velour Recordings is an American record label founded in 1999 in New York by Jeff Krasno and Sean Hoess.-Signed artists include:* The Cat Empire* Soulive* Kaki King* Melissa Errico* Maktub* Topaz* Lettuce* Kudu* Baba* Sonya Kitchell... |
External links
- Rufus Cappadocia's official website
- NPR Profile of Cappadocia
- TED Talks: Bruno Bowden folds while Rufus Cappadocia plays at TEDTED (conference)TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
in 2008