Chant du Coeur by David R. Gillingham

Chant du Coeur was written in honor of Amy (my daughter) and Michael Culligan’s wedding on August 8, 2020. Amy is a professional cellist, and her husband, Michael, a professional percussionist. “Chant du coeur” translates to “song of the heart” in English and the piece reflects the “heartfelt” emotion of Amy’s and Michael’s love for each other as well as the love that their parents, family, and friends have for them.

The binary structure of the piece presents a lyrical theme followed by a short development and a return to the theme. The cello and the marimba are equal partners in the piece and are exploited for both their lyrical and technical abilities.