Peter McNamara
Cadenza, for Viola
Instrument List
Viola
Year (created)
2004
Playing time approx.
8 Min.
Difficulty level
Student
Debut performance
9 Sep 04. Sydney Eclectic Composers' Society Concert, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Informationen
Cadenza for solo viola was completed in August 2004. Its title does relate to a traditional concerto cadenza somewhat. The material is very virtuosic and a degree of rhythmic flexibility is present in this work as in a traditional cadenza. The work has several gestural elements that emerge gradually and disrupt the element previous.
The first is a series of artificial and natural harmonics arranged in 2 cells. These emerge freely at first before being arranged into a steady pulse of semi-quavers. The 2 cells of harmonics are then subjected to various truncations and combinations. The next gesture to appear is a series of 2 rapid scalic figures arranged mostly in quartertones. These figures are also subjected to truncations as well as various bowings and colouristic changes to Sul Ponticello. The next gesture is a double-stopped gesture using the same note on 2 different strings. Tension is added to this gesture with glissandi in quartertones inflecting on either side of the sustained pitch, left hand pizzicato is also used. The climactic section utilises both the quartertonal scalic and double-stopped unison gestures with various changes in register to project the work into its climactic point. A short coda proceeds afterwards using the initial cells of harmonics, only placed on top of each other.
The first is a series of artificial and natural harmonics arranged in 2 cells. These emerge freely at first before being arranged into a steady pulse of semi-quavers. The 2 cells of harmonics are then subjected to various truncations and combinations. The next gesture to appear is a series of 2 rapid scalic figures arranged mostly in quartertones. These figures are also subjected to truncations as well as various bowings and colouristic changes to Sul Ponticello. The next gesture is a double-stopped gesture using the same note on 2 different strings. Tension is added to this gesture with glissandi in quartertones inflecting on either side of the sustained pitch, left hand pizzicato is also used. The climactic section utilises both the quartertonal scalic and double-stopped unison gestures with various changes in register to project the work into its climactic point. A short coda proceeds afterwards using the initial cells of harmonics, only placed on top of each other.
Genres
Viola solo
Publisher
Media Center