JAVS Spring 2007

Difficulty level chart: I Very Easy 2 Somewhat Easy 3 Intermediate 4 Somewhat Difficult 5 Difficult 6 Very Difficult

provide a piano reduction that does also appear in this score. The fact that this piece isn't read ily available in a viola-piano for mar may have something to do with irs obscurity. The scoring is for viola and 9 solo players [I flute, I oboe, l clarinet, 1 bas soon, 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 2 cel los, and 1 bass]. The work begins in a swaying 6/8, and later rhe music rakes on a march like tempo in a 4/4 rime. The end ing returns to the relaxed 6/8 material and end very softly. The "Air"frorn th( Ur( Sonau also has no commercial recording available. I was able to locate the score in the Library of Congress. I researched the University of Wisconsin library to see if there

mercia( recording available, but I was able to get a recording of the premiere that was recorded with a German Radio Orchestra and premiered on a radio broadcast. This work hands down is the most difficult viola concerto ever written . Milhaud wrote this for Primrose while they were both colleagues at the Aspen Music Festival. Milhaud probably fig ured si nce Primrose was known to be the best violist of his rime, that there would be no limit on how far he could stretch the vio list's technique in this piece. Unfortunately, the result was so difficult that Primrose on ly ven tured to perform it the one rime for the radio broadcast. My favorite movement is actually the final movement, written in 12/8 rime, and has sections that are obviously influenced by South American music, as he spent a considerable amount of time in Brazil. There are also many pas sages with double-stops through our the concerto, sometimes however they are written to be played to quickly, and are nor very practical in real life. This work has traditionally been much less played than the Concerto No. l , probably because of the difficulty issue, bur probably also because of the huge price tag it carries, when I last checked it was sel ling for $130! The Conurtino d 'ltl is another very pleasant piece that is also quire difficult. However, this work is much more playable than the Concertos No. l and 2. This work is currently only available in sco re form , bur Milhaud does

Please send all viola scores for review consideration ro:

Kenneth Martinson, Viola Professor University of Florida School of Music, 3008 AUD P.O. Box 117900 Gainesvi lle , FL 32611-7900

was a recording made of the pre miere, and they were not able to find one. I did input the score into Finale so I would be able to hear it, and the playback sounds very beautiful, and I very much look forward to hearing it realized some day. It is orches trated for 2 flute, 1 oboe, 2 clarinet, l bassoon, 2 horns , 1 trumpet, timpani, and smngs. These works are all published by Huegel. Key to the

dam pi~ Pat No 3 407 700

the sensational humidifier for VIOLIN e VIOLA e CELLO e BASS

We recommend the Damp1t enthusiastK:al/y.

d•mplt provides perfect protection against damage from a dry atmosphere. ftmplt proved itself 100% effective in scientific sensor measurements. FREE Room Humidity indicator with each d•mplt. Violin $8.95 • Viola $9.50 Little Violin $7.95 • Cello $11.50 Bass $12.50 AVOID FAKES, AVOID MISTAKES. A genuine Dampit hM lh4> Dampit name on lh4> black top. Nr--...-.-USA-~$1.00--. In USA-~ P'-- $.M--. llox-, City- NY, NY 10101.

_____________ V.L.::~:o~VM~ 23__ NVM~~R~l,__ ____________ 55