Matériel : Partition
Commissioned by the Wigmore Hall for the composer's 60th birthday with funds from ACNI.'viola:piano is one of a set of 6 pieces which I wrote in 2008 and 2009. Two of the others violin:piano and cello:piano requirethe instrumentalists to play at different tempi from each other throughout. In this piece the players are playing together but their material is for the most part quite different and for the first 12 minutes the two partshave little in common. It is only after this that they begin a more conventional contrapuntal relationship. This is the first of these pieces to be premiered. It was commissioned by the Wigmore Hall with funding from the ArtsCouncil of Ireland. The piece is dedicated to Mary R rich.' - Kevin Volans
SKU: HL.284546
For Bob is arranged for Cello and Piano. First performed by Elisabeth Smalt and Kevin Volans, London 2016. Composers Note: I have no idea where this piece came from and how it is structured. But before and after I wrote it I was nagged by the question: what does the viola have to do with the piano? Did this combination evolve by unfortunate accident? The viola was perfected in the 18th century. Its natural metier is (private) chamber music. The piano on the other hand kept growing and blossomed in the 19th century as the ultimate public instrument. If the piano is to play with the viola, it has to rein back its power and pose as an accompanist. Maybe a third instrument, perhaps from the 20th century, is needed to mediate between these two very different sound worlds. So whenwe play this 'trio' with 2 instruments I invite the listener to mentally add the silent part(ner). - Kevin Volans.
SKU: HL.284545
ISBN 9781785582752. 9.0x12.0 inches.
For Bob. arranged for Viola and Piano. First performed by Elisabeth Smalt and Kevin Volans, London 2016. Composers Note: I have no idea where this piece came from and how it is structured. But before and after I wrote it I was nagged by the question: what does the Viola have to do with the Piano? Did this combination evolve by unfortunate accident? The Viola was perfected in the 18th century. Its natural metier is (private) chamber music. The Piano on the other hand kept growing and blossomed in the 19th century as the ultimate public instrument. If the piano is to play with the Viola, it has to rein back its power and pose as an accompanist. Maybe a third instrument, perhaps from the 20th century, is needed to mediate between these two very different sound worlds. So whenwe play this 'trio' with 2 instruments I invite the listener to mentally add the silent part(ner). - Kevin Volans.
