Viola Concerto
(1973)
Duration: 23'
Viola; 1221/3210/perc/hp/str
Commissioned by the BBC

World Premiere:  13 August 1973, Royal Albert Hall, London
Peter Mark, viola
Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by the composer

U.S. Premiere:  26 April 1975
Peter Mark, viola
Pasadena Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Lewis, conductor

Publisher:  Novello & Co Ltd

Critical Acclaim:

The soloist...in clear spatial perspectives he engages in dialogues with different groups. In one engaging episode the 9 orchestral violas stand up, to be led by the soloist as if in a kind of master class...the salient characteristics of the concerto are lyricism and wit. Melodic lines are rapturous but when romance is in danger of becoming sentimental, the melody breaks into — well, into the musical equivalent of a smile of happiness. The construction is firm, clear and definite. The scoring is masterly.
— Andrew Porter, The Financial Times

...Musgrave uses a comfortable harmonic idiom, not much more radical than Mahler's. She calls up some marvellous dialogues between the soloist and instrumental subgroups, including those whose domains seem incompatible — the heavens of the flute and the underworld of 8 string basses, for example. The interplay is magical — as is so much of Musgrave's finely crafted music.
— Paul Hertelendy, Mercury News

Composer's Note:

Many of my orchestral works have been written in what I have called dramatic-abstract forms; dramatic because players are sometimes called upon to carry out a more theatrical role, and abstract because there is no programme. The form is quite different in each of these works but technically they do have certain things in common. For in order to underline the dramatic nature of certain solo parts, the players at times play independently of the conductor, so they have the same kind of rhythmic freedom as they would in a virtuosic cadenza or lyrical rubato. This meant finding a notation that allows the synchronization of events to be simple and practical, leaving the players free to concentrate on presenting their lines in an uninhibited way.

The Viola Concerto explores the dramatic interplay of the solo viola with different small orchestral groups, and, equally important, the relationship of the soloist with his colleagues in the viola section. To this end, the viola section is seated where the lst violins normally sit, thus focussing attention on them right from the start.

The opening tutti forms the framework to the whole work. It is often loud and characterized by sharp jagged chords or whirling passages with chattering wind and brass. But there are also softer moments as when the soloist makes his entry, and later when there is a cantabile line accompanied by softly undulating horns.

There are two central episodes where the soloist is heard in combination with two small orchestral groups; an unconducted soft lyrical section when the viola solo is accompanied by the flute, bass clarinet and harp, and later a grotesque scherzo with the bassoon, lst cello and lst double bass. During this scherzo the orchestral violas become increasingly restive and finally break out with an impassioned declamation. They are dramatically interrupted by a solo trombone. The soloist then joins the violas, and leads them to a brief recapitulation and coda.

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