J.S. Bach's six suites for solo cello have been skilfully transcribed for solo Viola by Watson Forbes offering a new wealth of repertoire to the advancing violist.

This work for viola chorus and percussion was commissioned by the London Symphony Chorus and was first performed in October 1994 at the Barbican Hall London by Yuri Bashmet and the London Symphony Chorus conducted by StephenWestrop.The remarkable text of the Troparion written by the great Byzantine poetess-nun Cassiana was the inspiration of The Myrrh-Bearer. The text informed the architecture of the music. The viola solo represents MaryMagdalen as the cello solo represented the Mother of God on The Protecting Veil. This is where the resemblance between the two pieces ends.In The Myrrh-Bearer the Chorus symbolises ‘us’ the ‘sins of the world’ from‘stylized dictatorships’ to ‘the frivolous inane escapist vanities of the world ’ the to cries of ‘help’ after the cosmic catastrophe and finally reaching an apocalyptic climax in the words ‘We have no king by Caesar;’ adownright condemnation of God in the Earthly power.In a surreal way the Magdalen’s ‘sin’ shines through in the viola music because she recognises the Godhead and the endless ‘Kyrie eleison’ chanted by the semi-chorusrepresents her repentance and whatever is left of a ‘repentant’ world.The Myrrh-Bearer explores the whole range of the viola climbing from the depths up to the highest notes and then falling again at the end after theMagdalen’s recognition of the Risen Christ ‘Rabboni.’The last stroke of the gong in the viola’s final bottom C gives a deliberately ominous end to the piece.This is a special item which is made to order. Please e-mail ourMail Order Department for further information.

Solo Viola part for Rolf Wallin's Under City Skin for viola string orchestra and surround sound.

Geoffrey Burgon's Six Studies were originally composed for solo cello. This transcription authorised by the composer has involved some changes in register and notes due to the different timbres and response of the viola and theconsiderable difference in physical size of the two instruments. This work was commissioned by the Portsmouth Festival with funds provided by Southen Arts. The first performance was given by Julian Lloyd Webber at theCathedral Church of Old Portsmouth in June 1980.

Tribute To Michael Berkeley is a piece written by Hugh Wood for solo Viola. It was composed as a farewell tribute to Michael Berkeley in appreciation of his work as Director of the Cheltenham Festivalfrom 1995-2004. The work lasts around 3 minutes.

This work was commissioned by Roger Chase. First performance on 16th February 2009 at the Stradivari Music and Arts Center Chicago.

The composer’s note on this copy of the autograph score has the following directions: ‘Out of the Night was written to be played in order to ‘greet the dawn’ outside St Catherine’s Monastery Sinai’ and it is recommended that the work be played outside or in a church or building with some resonance. The sound is Middle Eastern modal invoking the Orthodox Church with the Greek pronunciation of the single word ‘Alleluia’.Tavener was widely known as a composer of religious music and while this work does not fit any liturgical use it communicates the sacredness of a new day. Contemporary British composer John Tavener was that rare creature a composer of serious music andserious religious music who also achieved commercial success. He burst into the popular consciousness with the performance of his Song for Athene at the funeral of Princess Diana but had been a highly respected and frequently performed composer since the premiere of his dramatic cantata The Whale in 1968.