JAVS Fall 2016

duration of the Concerto is approximately twenty-five minutes. The whole work is very virtuosic in nature, and is technically very demanding for the soloist. The music has a broad range of colors, evoking images of Anatolian landscapes. Saygun’s viola writing is generally in a very high register on the instrument, which helps the solo line to penetrate the dense orchestration. The balance between the orchestra and soloist can be a challenge and it requires the conductor to be extra sensitive. The orchestral

accompaniment acts more of a chamber music partner to the solo viola line, rather than true accompaniment.

Generally speaking, audiences in Turkey and in Germany have received the Concerto very well. Having played Saygun’s Viola Concerto, and Violin works in many countries, soloist Mirjam Tschopp shared that “In my experience, whoever listens to Saygun’s music is deeply fascinated and impressed by its inner force and emotion

Example 3. Saygun, Viola Concerto, mvt. 1, mm. 1-3. This example and all others following are used with permission from Peer Musikverlag.

Example 4. Saygun, Viola Concerto, mvt. 1, mm. 27-31

Example 5. Octatonic scale

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Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 32, No. 2, Fall 2016