International commission for three orchestras: Los Angeles Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Orquestra Sinfónica do Estado de São Paulo, 2011.

​

Science fiction music, just like the literature. Not in the sense of fictional, but of scientific fiction, a genre of fiction based on science. That is Magnetar, the concerto for electric cello and orchestra by Enrico Chapela.

​

Chapela searched for the largest magnet in the universe to base his piece on, hence the title: Magnetar. Magnetars are pulsars resulting from the implosion of a supernova that produce a large magnetic field. The composer investigated and located a scientist at the University of Berkeley, California, who has worked with magnetars: Johnathan Arons. “I met with him and he provided me with data from NASA spacecraft that have observed magnetar explosions; from that data, I extracted the materials to compose the work.” He adds: “I use science for fun; in that sense, it is equivalent to science fiction in literature. I do not pretend to make a scientific argument; I do not maintain that this is what magnetars sound like.”

​

To translate the research into musical materials, Chapela took his electric guitar, removed two strings, and tuned it like a cello. “I had an impromptu jam session (a 'palomazo') with the materials generated from the magnetars. The solo part came out of that, which I then orchestrated around it.”

​

The electric cello is an electromagnetic instrument, given that its strings generate a magnetic field when they move, which is then captured by a pickup that converts it into an electric current. The electric cello does not have a soundbox, only a fingerboard and a silhouette with the shape of the outer edge. Created by Yamaha, the so-called "Silent Cello" was intended for practice without disturbing neighbors, but it was later found that its signal could be used like an electric guitar, and cellists began to take it seriously.

​

“In Magnetar, electric guitar effects such as wah-wah, distortion, flanger, phaser, and chorus are used. Influences of rock, metal, reggae, progressive rock, and jazz can be found. I like the variety of textures and colors, a consequence of using the effects. The passages that sound rock or jazzy are a product of the jam session ('palomazo') with my guitar.”