JAVS Fall 2005

When asked how they do this, rhcy sa id rh:u iris difficult to full y describe the process; bur because they play togetl1er so often, it is easy for them to interact wirh each other. They often sta rt with a small theme, and a second theme can be composed later. Once enough of it has been written out, they then decide on the form and add sec tions as needed. The three Aqu ino-Y

Difficulty: Level 4/5 Duration: about 2 to 4 minutes per movement By Ernesto Julio de Nazereth ( 1863- 1932) Arranged by Francisca Aquino This compilation has been pub lished lor flexible solo insrrumenr and piano. The viola version is quire successful and convincing, which is why T have included it in this column. These short diverse pieces may be performed in a set or as individual short diversions or encores in reci tal performance. They come from various genres such as the tango, the waltz, and the polka. According to the notes in rhe music's preface, Darius Milhaud recalls being fascinated and intrigued by rhythms ol Braziilian music in his memoirs: "There was an imperceptible sus pension in rhe syncoparion, a slothful breaching, a subtle stop rhat was very hard lor me to cap ture." Nazareth was one the Brazil's most accomplished composers of the rime, and Milhaud had hea rd his music on several occasions in Rio de Janeiro. Playing through these works, I was pleasan tly surprised witl1 how well these works worked on the viola. The entire range of the instrument is exploited, and only rarely does the upper range go past our har monic "A" on the a-s tring. The "C'' above rhar harmonic is used rhree rimes, and the music never stays in one are of the range for too long. 1 particularly enjoyed the Eponina, which had a couple interesting curiosities- 5 and 6 nore grace notes melismas- in the movement. All in all, these are

wel l-arranged works, and highly welcomed ro our repertoire.

Duas Miniaturas Brasilieras (arranged 2000)

Lua Branca 0 Corta-Jaca

Difficulty: Level 2 Duration: 4 minutes

By Chiqujn.ha Gonzaga (1847-1935) Arranged by Francisc.'l Aquino and Rjcardo Vasconcellos We have here two curious miniarure pieces li·01n a lesser-known Portuguese/Brazi lian female com poser fiom around the turn of the century. These pieces arc also very cure and completely playable lor viol ists ol a wide range of expertise. These pieces cOLJd even prove to be interesting to young viola students whose reachers wanr to deparT from rhe Vivaldi, Bach or Mozart found in many ofour beginning method books. The piano pm·t is very well written, and slightly more advanced than the solo part. The Lua Branca has a nice lyrical expressiveness tO it while the 0 Cona-Jaca is much more upbeat and of a "Bolero-like" character. T hese works arc certai nly an interesting addition for violists' libraries, bur because ol the easy technical writing they may not be as successCul on a profession;J program. After having gortcn to know rhc rhrec works above, l became cu rious about tlus husband/wife duo that co-wrote ;md arranged them. Such a collaboration, while more common in popular music, is most rare in rhc classical tradition. Y )LUME 2 1 NUMBER 2 7 1