JAVS Spring 2006

ensemble li tcracure and ensembl e parti cipants in the international Viola Congresses. The rota lly unexpected ride of the mod ula tion and transition is "Take Me Our to the Ball Game" whi ch introduces the little-known el c ment of the outdoor viola ensem ble, beginning specifi ca ll y with the Chicago Symphony viola sec tion performing the national anthem before a sell-out crowd in Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, in 1985. Tatton incl udes basketball and other baseball venues and arrangements for sporting events, including "Mr. Sandman," ''Take Me Out to the Ball Game," and "0 Canada." The recapitulation pertains to professional and colle giate ensembles, including

Germany's All egro-Vibratsche, New York Viol a Society and the American Viola Society sponso red ensembl es, and university ensem bles in Texas, Pennsylva nia, Oregon, and Beijing. Tatton's coda is a very welcome list or viola ensem bles and sources graded approp ri - ately according to difficulty. Parts 3 and 4 were contr ibu ted respectively by Robe rt Baldwin and Katrina Wreede. Baldwin , writer fo r "Part 3: The Orchestral Violist," is also at the top of his game with a brief hisro rical review of the viola,s checkered history as penzionsinstrument. (Such was the practice of the rime despite the established point of Richard Wagner and Johann Joachim Quanrz. regarding the

necessity of the violist in an ensemble being as accompl ished as the other membe rs.) He then devotes two pages to the elements auditi oncrs are looking for in a successful audition and includes lists of commonly requested con certos and solo works, excerp ts, and solo excerpts for principal and associate/assistant principal audiri ons. He next shares rhoughrs on orchestral excerpts and matches techniques, i.e., spiccato, sautill e, with speci fi c reperto ire. He concludes with observations on bow usc and bowings, fingerings and vibrato and a "viol a section C redo." Katrina Wrcede d iscusses modal and harmonic improvisation with suggestions for creat ing improvi sation acti vities in reaching, prac

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EDI Records www. EDIRecords.com

A close yet atmospheric recording conveys an evocative array of colors from Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Michael Long. The duo do well by this rich, passionate and often haunting music, which amply holds onels interest with its variety and deft pacing. The Gramophone January 2005

EDI6254

(Ngwenyama) etches the the architectural aspects of each movement with care. She provides solidly shaped music of bold, mesmerising chracter. The Gramophone March 2005

EDI6738

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