SKU: HL.14042969
ISBN 9781783053919.
Portrait No.2 'E.B.B' is taken from Two Portraits for Strings composed by Benjamin Britten . This fantastic, flowing Viola solo over, soft, staccato Piano chords really expresses a range of gripping emotions. Here it is present in a version arranged for Viola and Piano by Martin Outram, violist of the Maggini Quartet.
SKU: BA.BA11068
ISBN 9790006561988. 35.5 x 25 cm inches.
“... she stood leering hideously, and much dust sodden with tears lay upon her shoulders.â€â€œThese snippets from Johann Heinrich Voss's translation of Hesiod's Shield of Hercules, where the din of battle is brought to a standstill for the wink of an eye, made me think of music that describes the 'inwardness' of a particular feeling, close to the much-cited metaphor of an entire life flitting past the inner eye in the space of a second, when, as in Hesiod, Atropos severs the thread of life. Viola and piano join forces on an equal basis to inscribe ever more lines and shapes which, however, relate in their inmost essence to intertwining circles laden with melancholy.â€(Philipp Maintz)
SKU: BR.EB-9441
ISBN 9790004189184. 9 x 12 inches.
The two sonatas of Johannes Brahms's op. 120 are widely hailed as crowning points of the repertoire for clarinet and piano. Moreover, in the version for viola and piano arranged by Brahms himself, they rank among the most frequently played viola works of the 19th century. They far surpass in compositional substance the relatively few original sonatas written for these instrumentations during the same period.Of the two fellow works, the Sonata No. 2 in E flat major is the more accessible. Diverging from the classical-romantic tradition, Brahms used the key of E flat major here not to express the heroic or monumental, but to obtain lyrical, chiefly restrained characterizations. The serenade-like beauty of the principal theme, which opens the sonata, has always been particularly admired. In his review of the world premiere, the renowned Viennese music critic Eduard Hanslick, a friend of Brahms's, raves with the words it was as if it had fallen from the Heavens. The closing set of variations also follows with gentle gracefulness this lyrical character. However, the middle movement, with its tempestuous outer sections in E flat minor and the hymnic trio in B major provides a passionate and serious contrast, which allows the flanking idyll to unfold its beauties all the more insistently.
SKU: BA.BA11060
ISBN 9790006559022. 42 x 29.5 cm inches.
... she stood leering hideously, and much dust sodden with tears lay upon her shoulders.These snippets from Johann Heinrich Voss's translation of Hesiod's Shield of Hercules, where the din of battle is brought to a standstill for the wink of an eye, made me think of music that describes the 'inwardness' of a particular feeling, close to the much-cited metaphor of an entire life flitting past the inner eye in the space of a second, when, as in Hesiod, Atropos severs the thread of life. Viola and piano join forces on an equal basis to inscribe ever more lines and shapes which, however, relate in their inmost essence to intertwining circles laden with melancholy.(Philipp Maintz)
SKU: PR.114417880
ISBN 9781491131664. UPC: 680160637089. 9x12 inches.
Commissioned by the Santa Rosa Symphony for Paul Silverthorne, principal violist of the London Symphony, the character of this grand three-movement work may best be described in the composer’s own words: “If I had to describe the character of each instrument in the orchestra, I would consider the viola to be the voice of wisdom, moderation, and prudence. However I find there is much flair and brilliance hidden beneath the surface. In my viola concerto I aimed to explore these contrasts: beauty and sweetness; agitation and angst; brilliance and virtuosity.â€.
SKU: BA.BA11058
ISBN 9790006558308. 30 x 21 cm inches.
The intimate atmosphere of the first of the “Trois Poèmes†op. 66 is evoked here in a purely instrumental form – technically easily accessible, with an expressive melodic and corresponding harmonic treatment.
SKU: HL.14030790
ISBN 9780853604488. 8.0x12.0x0.198 inches.
While Gordon Jacobs composed a vast amount of music - more than four hundred pieces -- he was particularly celebrated for his work for Viola and for woodwinds, as well as for his books on music pedagogy. Jacob had an early success with his Viola Concerto of 1926 which was premiered at a Promenade concert and which was the beginning of a series of strong contributions to Viola repertoire. This Sonatina for Viola and Piano demonstrates his sensitive writing for the instrument. It works very well when performed on clarinet as well.While many composers of the 20th century rejected serialism, atonality and other avant garde effects in favour of Romanticism, Jacob was much morean adherent to the musical models of the classic and baroque eras, while still encompassing modern harmonies. His work Music for a Festival, for symphonic wind band and brass ensemble, was used for the post-war Festival of Britain and he arranged the British national anthem for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
