The cello was a vital part of Catalan musical expression in the first half of the 20th century. Pablo Casals as composer and cello virtuoso was its revolutionary force, and his student Gaspar Cassadó joined him in writing expressive original works with a strong sense of national heritage. Casals’ touching Pastoral was his first major published work, while Cassadó’s Lamento de Boabdil is a musical depiction of the last Moorish ruler of Granada’s exile. With its striking outpouring of emotion, Mompou’s El pont is a tribute to Casals, and is his most substantial piece for cello and piano. The album Catalan Cello Works, featuring more works by Casals, Cassadó and Mompou as well as pieces by Casablancas and Granados, is available on 8.579097.