George Benjamin - Viola, Viola, for viola and viola (1997)

0:00 The violas almost imperceptibly trade a monotonic line, with increasing interjections by vibrant triple stops and furtive runs.
1:29 Misterioso. More colors of the violas are brought forth, with a persistent coarse 2-note motif.
3:34 Cantabile. Independent lines begin to flourish, often colored by bright thin harmonics.
6:41 Climax of wide sonorous chords and tremolos
7:58 Reverberant pizzicato chords, enhanced with artificial harmonic echos, close out the piece.

The idea of a viola duo was that of Toru Takemitsu, who was responsible for Viola, Viola being commissioned for the opening of the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall in 1997. My initial thoughts of how to solve the compositional problems inherent within this unconventional medium may have suggested the viola's accustomed role as a melancholy voice hidden in the shadows. Once under way, however, a completely different instrumental character — fiery and energetic — imposed itself. My desire was to conjure an almost orchestral depth and variety of sound. At first the instruments are virtually braided together — numerous elements hocket between the players at a rate that the ear has difficulty in perceiving who plays what. Through this a larger array of instruments in suggested, each defined by motif, pace, dynamic and, above all, register. Only towards the work's cantabile centre do clearly independent lines begin to flourish. The implied harmony is intended to be as sonorous as possible, the texture at times maintaining four or more parts for sustained periods.

Score available from Faber Music: https://www.fabermusic.com/music/viola-viola-2767
Composer: Sir George William John Benjamin (January 31, 1960 –)
Violists: Tabea Zimmermann and Antoine Tamestit

How I make my videos: https://github.com/CMajSeven/WorkflowTemplate
Program I develop for this channel: https://github.com/edwardx999/ScoreProcessor

Видео George Benjamin - Viola, Viola, for viola and viola (1997) канала Cmaj7