JAVS Fall 2011

Example 1b. Sergey Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet, Minuet – Arrival of the Guests , mm. 1–4 (Borisovsky’s Viola Transcription).

Example 2a. Sergey Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet, Balcony Scene , mm. 139–45 (Prokofiev’s Piano Reduction).

much of the passagework through the possibility of using the open strings—as a result this extract, for most people, proves to be less difficult to play than it looks and sounds. Similar transpositions are made in four movements ( Minuet – Arrival of the Guests (4), Dance of the Knights (6), Dance with Mandolins (10), and Morning Serenade (14)). Example 1 shows the

two instruments, but also at maintaining, to a great extent, the variety of colors that Prokofiev created; the choice of key in which to set the viola and piano version was crucial in this respect.

Mercutio is moved from A-flat to D major, which enhances the resonance of the extract and facilitates

J OuRNAL OF ThE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETy 32