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On 21, Nov 2012 | In Music in the Hall | By admin
Concerto (In the Form of Variations) for Viola and Orchestra
Concerto (In the Form Of Variations) for Viola and Orchestra
Instrumentation: viola and orchestra
Duration: 21 minutes
Excerpt 1: Variation 3 Ritmico (mm. 126-150)
The kinetic climax of the concerto.
Neubauer, Mester, NOA
Excerpt 2: Variation 4 molto adagissimo e sostenuto (mm. 224-end)
The final serene variation – the concerto’s theme presented as a simple chorale.
Neubauer, Mester, NOA
Perusal score can be viewed here
A complete performance can be heard here
About the work:
Premiered by violist Paul Neubauer at Carnegie Hall, this dramatic, single-movement concerto was described by Andrew Porter in The New Yorker as “…a poetic, beautiful, and intelligent exploration of a long, eloquent melody, through variations that are at first musing and gentle, then passionate, finally simple, confident, and serene. The work is a dramatic scena for the soloist; the orchestra provides at once a setting and a cast of conversants and commentators.”
What the critics said:
“…a poetic, beautiful, and intelligent exploration of a long, eloquent melody, through variations that are at first musing and gentle, then passionate, finally simple, confident, and serene. The work is a dramatic scena for the soloist; the orchestra provides at once a setting and a cast of conversants and commentators.”
Andrew Porter, The New Yorker
“This is a magnificent work of tremendous expressive force, often poignant and threnodic, yet always inspiring in its fecundity of ideas and assured development.”
Bill Zakariasen, Daily News
“The scoring for solo viola is brilliant…”
James R. Oestreich, The New York Times
“…the viola sang a mournful, rich melody that the orchestra generally accompanied and underscored. It was a genuine concerto, giving a prominent, virtuoso role to the viola…”
Peter Goodman, Newsday
“The Concerto is a magnificent, twenty-minute viola declamation: dramatic, passionate, lyrical, eloquent, acerbic, tender, rough, sentimental, and yet pleasant and approachable by twentieth century standards. It is a completely qualified candidate to be programmed by a good orchestra and mature soloist as a serious part of a subscription-series concert.
…the overall impression is of originality…The concerto is masterly constructed, doubtless with compositional complexities, contrapuntal cunning, and clever connivances enough to keep the high-minded occupied as long as they want to be…Mr. Friedman really does know how to put what he wants on paper…his orchestration is meticulous, reminiscent of Tchaikovsky or Mahler in attention to detail.
The solo part is for a virtuoso, and Mr. Neubauer certainly is one of our finest. The soloist is allowed to show the best side of our instrument, and without having to compete overly with the orchestral forces.
All in all, this is a splendid addition to the repertory. One can only hope that it will not languish in obscurity, since it is so attractive and practical.”
Thomas G. Hall, Journal of the American Viola Society
Duration: 21 minutes
Instrumentation details: 2(II=picc.).2.2(II=bcl).2-2.2.2.1-hp-pft*-2perc**-strings * some light preparation is necessary (see score for details) ** I = lg susp.cym, high tam-t, TB, crot (w/bow), vib, BD, SD; II = lg susp.cym, low tam-t, BD, timp; to be shared (I&II)= 2 timb, 3 tom-t, mar
Prizes: 1988 ASCAP Young Composers’ Competition; 1989 New Music Orchestral Project competition (sponsored by the National Orchestral Association)
Premiere: January 19, 1990 at Carnegie Hall, New York City Paul Neubauer, viola (Carnegie Hall debut); Jorge Mester, conductor; The National Orchestral Association