Composer

:

Bruno Maderna

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1971

Average_duration

:

7:20

Bruno Maderna's Viola is a composition for solo viola and chamber orchestra. It was composed in 1971 and premiered on October 22, 1972, in Donaueschingen, Germany, by violist Serge Collot and the Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maderna himself. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement, marked "Lento," is a somber and introspective meditation on the viola's rich and dark timbre. The soloist's long, sustained notes are accompanied by delicate, shimmering textures in the orchestra, creating a sense of suspended time and space. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is a lively and playful scherzo that showcases the viola's virtuosic capabilities. The soloist's rapid-fire runs and arpeggios are set against a lively and syncopated rhythm in the orchestra, creating a sense of joyful energy and momentum. The final movement, marked "Adagio," is a haunting and ethereal meditation on the viola's expressive potential. The soloist's long, lyrical lines are set against a backdrop of shimmering harmonies in the orchestra, creating a sense of otherworldly beauty and transcendence. Throughout the piece, Maderna explores the full range of the viola's expressive capabilities, from its rich and sonorous lower register to its soaring and lyrical upper register. He also employs a wide range of extended techniques, such as harmonics, glissandi, and pizzicato, to create a kaleidoscope of timbres and textures. Overall, Viola is a masterful showcase of Maderna's compositional skill and the viola's expressive potential. Its three movements offer a rich and varied musical journey that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally moving.

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