Sonata for Solo Viola
Bruce J. Taub
About this work:
Sonata for Solo Viola was written in 1988 and is dedicated to my friend and colleague, William Holab. It consists of four movements. The first movement, Variations is slow and reminiscent of the slow section of a Baroque, French Overture (use of dotted rhythms). There is a theme and five undifferentiated variations. The second movement, Scherzo is fast with constant sixteenth notes changing meters and accentuation patterns. It is played all pizzicato. In addition, like all of the movements it is also in some respects a set of variations on the opening theme. The third movement, Elegy is slow and rhapsodic with a cadenza toward the end. It is played with a mute throughout and emphasizes more of the upper register of the instrument than the previous two movements. The last movement, Gigue, Rondo is based on thematic material of the first movement (the 'a' sections). The Sonata was premiered by Robert S. Bloch at UC, Davis. It is published by C.F. Peters Corporation.
Year composed: 1988
Duration: 00:13:30
Ensemble type: Solo instrument, non-keyboard:Viola
Instrumentation: 1 Viola