Johanson (viola)
for solo viola
Instrumentation
viola
Commissioned by the Johansen International Competition for their 2018 competition this work is designed as a compact and attractive work testing a younger string player’s ability to handle numerous technical and interpretative issues. The one movement piece is cast in an ABA1 form—fast-slow-fast—and was designed to be performed on violin, viola, or cello, as was required by the Johansen committee.
Program Note
Johansen is aptly named as it was commissioned by the Johansen International Competition for their 2018 competition. It is designed as a compact, attractive work testing a younger string player’s ability to handle numerous technical and interpretative issues. There are fast passages for fingering and bowing; long melodic lines for color, control, and phrasing; string crossings, multiple stops, and harmonics; loud, aggressive, funky parts and soft ethereal passages. The one movement piece is cast in an ABA1form: fast-slow-fast. The opening is focused on a funky, rhythmic idea alternating with fast passagework. The middle gentle section features three distinct lyrical themes. The final portion begins with a new quietly intense theme full of double stops and then flows into a modified recapitulation of the work’s opening. Johansen was designed to be performed on violin, viola, or cello, as was required for the Johansen Competition. The tempos are “aspirational” – meaning they illustrate and clarify the character and intent of the piece. But, younger performers should know that it is possible to create a convincing, musical interpretation of the piece at tempos slower than the printed tempo indications.
I’d like to especially thank the following exceedingly gracious musicians for their invaluable assistance: Henry Flory, violin; Derek Smith, viola; and Steven Honigberg, cello. Thanks certainly to the fine folks at the Johansen International Competition and the Friday Morning Music Club Foundation for the opportunity. Also, thank you Victoria Gau for thinking of me!
Johansen was commissioned by the 2018 Johansen International Competition sponsored by the Friday Morning Music Club Foundation. It was “premiered” during the semifinalist competition round of the 2018 JIC on March 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Its official World Premiere was by cellist Michal Balas on October 7, 2018 on the Mary Roth Concert Series at the Church of the Annunciation, Washington, DC
Watch 1
Violin version (Daniel Columbo)
Watch 2
Cell version (Michal Balas)
Watch 2
Cello version (Michal Balas)
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