Composer

:

Heitor Villa-Lobos

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1919 - 1935

Average_duration

:

4:10

"Viola quebada, A. 159/6" is a solo piece for viola composed by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. The piece was composed in 1929 and premiered in Paris in the same year. It is part of a collection of twelve pieces for solo viola, known as "A Prole do Bebê" (The Baby's Family), which Villa-Lobos composed between 1918 and 1929. "Viola quebada" is the sixth piece in the collection and is characterized by its expressive and melancholic melody. The title of the piece translates to "Broken Viola" and refers to the use of a technique called scordatura, where the viola is tuned differently than usual. In this case, the viola is tuned a whole step lower than normal, giving it a darker and more somber sound. The piece is in a slow tempo and is divided into three sections. The first section features a mournful melody played in the lower register of the viola. The second section is more rhythmic and features a faster melody played in the higher register of the viola. The final section returns to the mournful melody of the first section, but with added ornamentation and a more complex harmonic structure. Overall, "Viola quebada" is a hauntingly beautiful piece that showcases Villa-Lobos' skill in writing for the viola. Its use of scordatura and expressive melody make it a favorite among violists and a staple of the solo viola repertoire.

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