JAVS Fall 2005

NEW Musrc REviEWS

SantaTeresa for viola and piano, Op. 5 no. I (2000)

This column features lesser-known pieces for viola andpianoFom South AmeTica.

The resulting colors from the har monics and tremolos in this move ment arc rather refreshing. Tanguano is a bit more challenging technically, as much of it exploits the lower register of the viola, many of the passages wo rking best on the C-srring. It is much quicker and more virtuosic in character, with rhe middle section using many 6tl1s. Both of these movements arc in ter nary (ABA) fo rm, as is much of Piazzolla's music. The ending has a cure "button" that has often evoked chuckles from the audiences in my own performances. Le Gnmd Tango (written for Rosrropovid1) has been a highly cele brated contcmporaq work in the cello literatw·e, and recorded numerous times (includingYo-Yo Ma); however, most violists are surprised to find out that Piazzolla intended it to be for cello or viola. The viola version is quite nice, and works equallywell. The notes in d1is one are agai n not too clilliculr (never going above the high B, just above d1e harmortic A); probably the most difficult passage would be the d1irds at m54 (F#-D co G-E on me D and A strings). The work is highly charged rhydmucally, very fim to play, and deserves d1e same populari ty with violists as is has alreadywid1cellists. Both of these pieces are available through: ALMA Inc.

Difficulty: Level 3 Duration: 5 minu tes

Dos Piezas Breves paraViola y Piano ( 1977)

By Francisca Aquino (b. 1956) and Ricardo Vasconcellos (b. 1955)

La Noche: Lento e misterioso Tanguano: Molro marcato

T his attractive work co-written by this Brazilian husband-wife duo is deeply rooted in d1ese composers' native Samba tradition. Reading d1c work, T pictured myself performing in a Soud1 American cafe or salon. The piano and viola parts are professional ly idiomatic. The mtL~ic is attainable on d1e first hearing, its goal apparent ly not in harmonically innovation. While perhaps a little repetitive in its melodic material, dus is most W

Diffi culty: Level 5 Duration: 9 minutes

Le Grand Tango per Viola e Pianoforte ( 1982)

Difficul ty: Level 5 Duration: 11 minutes

By Astor Piazzolla (192 1-1992)

Surprisingly, the first two works showcased in this issue's column are somewhat unknown among violists, despite being written by a wel l established composer of ou r time. r was only able ro locate one record ing of the Dos Piezas Breves [Chesky CD 190] with Nardo Poy, viola and Allison Brewster Franzetri, piano. La Noche is a tranquil impressionist movement that is refreshingly tonal tlu·oughour, cen tering mostly around C Major. The notes arc nor roo difficult in this movcmenr; the challenge comes mosrly from trying to perform the big jumps in register in a smooth lyrical fashion, similar to the chal lenge presented in Mi lhaud's Bruxelloise from rhe Q uaere Visage.

Nazareth para todos (Compiled 2003)

Apanhei-te, cavaquinho! Brejeiro Confidencias

Corr·ecta Eponina Escorregando Nene Odeon

6602 Arbor Mcadow D r. San Antoni o, TX 78256 1-888-275-ALMA

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