JAVS Fall 2006

Homage a Erik Satie for viola and piano (1972)

Jay hulman. My curiosity drove ro look over the complete listing of works by Shulman hoping I might find viola music by him in addition ro rhe famous Theme and Variation for viola and orchestra, which seems ro be his most popular work. I was delighted ro find d1e two above menrioncd works as well as a Suite for SoLo Viola (1953), Variations 1984 (1981) for Viola, Harp and String;, and Two Episodes for Vioh Quartet (/978), all ofwhich I will probably review at a later dare. The Harnage n Erik Satie is a shon curious litde work written for viola or cel lo and it begins in con tour very similarly to arie's Gymnopedies No. 2 with rhe triple meter and the low bass note on beat one and the treble half note on bc.'tt

two. The harmon ies arc very French ounding, bur very different as is rhe melodic line given to rhe solo playe r. The viola version is extreme ly ea~y to play and leaves first posi tion only once for rhe G in third position on rhc a-s tring. The cel lo version keeps the same range as rhc viola, making it being played an octave higher than in posicion rhan it would be on rhe viola. This piece certa inly doesn't have much use as a reaching piece in the college studio as the Theme and Variations cer ta inly does (which may amibure to why this piece is hardly known ar all) . However for the innovative inrermediare string reacher, this work could prove to be an interest ing vibrato- reaching piece as opposed to d1e first movement of rhe 1e lemann Viola Concerro.

Difficul ty: Level I Duration: 2 min utes

A Piece in Popular Style for viola and piano (1940)

Diffi culty: Level 4 Duration: 3 minutes

By Alan Shulman (191 5-2002)

As I was seardung on d1e internet for a picture ofAlan Shulman to include on my WebCT Vista resource site for my viola studio (where I have numerous viola recordings for my snrdents to hear), I ran across d1e official website for Alan hulman maintained by his son

Fiddlc-Faddl e

Presenting . . .

The perfect encore piece for your next recital: "Fiddl Faddle" by Lcr y Ander on Arranged ~ r Vi la & Piano b Alan Arnold

Pri ce: $~.95

f\\·ai lnhk from:

www.viol.twor ldpublicat inns.com

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