Framed as a “study of energy,” the piece evolved through collaboration, revision, and performance. DiMarino shares his compositional process—from first ideas to final form—along with the challenges of writing for cello and piano for the first time.

The conversation explores:

•  Writing for the cello: register, balance, and texture 
•  Shaping musical form through energy and contrast 
•  Collaboration between composer and performer 
•  The meaning behind the title "The Great Experiment"
•  What defines an “American” musical sound 
•  Influences from Copland, Kodály, Korngold, and film music 
•  Accessibility and connecting with audiences 

DiMarino also discusses his work in music production, church music, and cinematic composition, and how these experiences shape his musical voice.

At the heart of this conversation is a central idea:

“I’m not particularly interested in my ideas just being my ideas… I want something approachable.”

🔗 Learn More

Daniel DiMarino
 https://www.danieldimarinomusic.com

Dr. Jonathan Simmons
 https://jonathansimmonscello.com

Explore more at the Cello Museum:
 https://cellomuseum.org

Watch the world premiere of "The Great Experiment" & read show notes: https://cellomuseum.org/composing-the-great-experiment-daniel-dimarino-on-cello-collaboration-energy-and-voice/

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Follow the Cello Museum Podcast for more conversations exploring the past, present, and future of the cello.

The Cello Museum Podcast is the official podcast of the Cello Museum.

Explore articles, exhibitions, and upcoming events at: https://cellomuseum.org 

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with fellow cellists and music lovers.

If this conversation inspires you to explore unaccompanied cello repertoire, join us in Delaware this summer at the Bethany Beach Cellofest (9–16 August). Find details here. 

Megiddo reflects on the long journey toward recording the six suites, including pandemic interruptions that led her to re-record the first three. The result, she explains, is not a definitive statement on Bach, but a deeply personal moment in an ongoing artistic life.

The conversation explores:

• How the Bach Suites unfold as a journey through the stages of life
• Aldo Parisot’s teaching philosophy and the search for an authentic voice
• “Free, but in tempo” — freedom within pulse
• Why new recordings of Bach still matter
• Recording at Stella Maris in New Zealand 
• Creativity inspired by the natural beauty and frontier spirit of New Zealand
• The role of silence, breath, and storytelling in performance
• Advice for cellists studying the Bach suites
• Experimenting with baroque bows, gut strings, and modern instruments
• Pandemic-era music-making and the enduring power of the First Suite Prelude

Megiddo also discusses her forthcoming book on Aldo Parisot’s pedagogy, her upcoming album Forbidden Voices (featuring music by composers suppressed during the Holocaust), and a new recording of works by Clara and Robert Schumann.

At the heart of this conversation lies a bold artistic principle about finding one's one voice:

Nothing is sacred. Question everything. Take risks.

Listen to Inbal Megiddo’s recording of the Bach Suites:

Listen on YouTube
Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)

Explore more at the Cello Museum: https://cellomuseum.org

The Cello Museum Podcast is the official podcast of the Cello Museum.

Explore articles, exhibitions, and upcoming events at: https://cellomuseum.org 

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with fellow cellists and music lovers.

If this conversation inspires you to explore unaccompanied cello repertoire, join us in Delaware this summer at the Bethany Beach Cellofest (9–16 August). Find details here.