JAVS Spring 2007

VIOLA RECORDINGS Ylzhak Schotten, "one of America's finest viola players• (STRAD), was for merly with the Boston Symphony and principal violist with Cincinnati &Houston Symphonies.Internation al soloist, he has five COs on Crystal. C0635: Britten Lachrymae; Shul man,Theme and Variations;Schuber, Arpeggione Sonata; Marais, Five Old French Dances. •extremely expressive musician"Toronto Whig-Standard C0637: Viola 1919. Hindemith&Clarke Sonatas;Bloch, Suite. "Sppendid sonar~ ootinglyplayed. "Turol

The score for chis work is available at: Australian Music Cenrre e-mail: info@amcoz.com.au Viola Concerto (1995) I. Moderaro-Presrissimo II. Andanre II I. Presto Difficulty: Level 6 Duration: 23 minutes Premiere: Rivka Golani with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra I found this work ro be innovative and creative, bur never roo dissonanr or offensive, and always attractive and inrriguing. I became aware of this work through the record ing of it that I bought [SMCD 5206 CBC Records] featuring Rivka Golani and rhe Toronro Symphony Orchestra. The opening movement begins very slowly and darkly, with mysterious harmonies that reminded me of Maninu's Symphony No. 3. This mood quickly changed into a more aggres sive one with the percus sion crescendo that leads into the opening viola solo entrance. There are extended viola cadenza like sections in the begin ning of the work that have By Peter Paul Koprowski (b. 1947)

lines above rhe rexrure. He also successfully embraces the romanric spirit in his mood changes, flowing seam lessly from gushy lyrical lines ro anx ious and more excited material . The movemenr is firmly root ed in E-flar major and remains in a 4/4 rime. The rhird movemenr "II Trastevere" he uses a rondo-form and draws inspiration from a more upbeat part of rhe Trastevere district near the Piazza di Sanra Maria that has a raised founrain and sidewalk cafes. This movemenr conrains many double-stop passages chat sound very fun ro play, with some octave work that goes inro upper posi tions. I also enjoyed the percussion colors he uses, especially the accompany ing tambourine he adds as a splash of color. The ending coda is consider able faster, making for an exciting ending, bur the very end seemed a little modest in volume and orchestration, I would be curious to see how an audience would react. All in all, the work as a whole is wonderful, and I highly recommend that violists rake a look at the romanric sounding gem of a concerto Brumby has written for us.

Paul Cortese has been principal violist with the Gothenberg (Sweden) and Bar celona (Spain) Symphonies. C0636:Carter,Elegy;Bergsma, Fantastic Variations; Hovhaness, Chahagir; Roch berg,Sonata; Persichetti,Parable for Solo Viola & Infanta Marina. "Performances are elegant: American Red.Guide CD833: Clarke, Lullaby &Grotesque; Lu toslawski, Bucollcs; Piston, Duo; Luening, Carol Rodland solo recitals include Merkin & Carnegie's Recital Hall, and throughout U.S. &Europe.She taught at Juilliard School and since 2002 has been on the faculty of the New England Conservatory. This new CD features first recordings of stellar new works along with Gershwin and Porter favontes. CD834: Viola Swirl. Bunch, Suite; Coleman, Summer; Theofan1dis, Flow My Tears; Gersh win &Porter arranged for viola and p1ano. James Dunham was violist of the famed Geveland Quartet.He has performed inter nationally as soloist &chamber musician, and taught at Eastman, New England Con servatory, and, currently, Rice University. CD647: Viola and the Winds. James Dun ham with the Westwood Wind Quintet. Sapieyevski, Concerto forVlola and Winds; Plog, Four Miniatures; Holst. Terzetto. Also Kohn. Colla Voce (w/guitar). "Dunharrfs cone is rich, gutsy, andexpressive." Fanfare

Suite; Vaughan Williams, Romance;Harris, Soliloquy &Dance. "su perblyplayedfirst recordings ofgorgeous music" Gramophone

COs $16 95 each Add $2/ocdef US sh1ppmg, $6 foreign (menbon ad) Order by phone, fax, mall , email, oc on the web US Check, VISA, MC FREE Compact Disc with each purchase of three. Send for free catalog featuring instrumental solos & ensembles. CRYSTAL • RECORDS 28818 NE Hancock, Camas, WA 98607 USA phone 360-834-7022; fax 360-834-9680, order@crystalrecords com See ltSbn b co r & new releases on web-site www 1alrecords com

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