viola

  1. Obscure Music Monday: Bauer's Viola Sonata

    Marion Bauer (Aug. 15, 1882 - Aug. 9, 1955) was an American composer, music critic, teacher, and writer. Born in Walla Walla, Washington, she was the youngest of seven children. Her father noticed her musical inclinations and she began studying piano  with her elder sister Emilie, who was 17 years older than her.  Continue reading →
  2. Obscure Music Monday: Melartin's String Trio

    Erkki Melartin (Feb. 7, 1875 - Feb. 14, 1937) was a Finnish composer, conductor, and teacher. He studied in Helsinki fro 1893 to 1899 with Martin Wegelius, and with Robert Fuchs,in Vienna, from 1899 to 1901 Continue reading →
  3. Obscure Music Monday: Glière's 8 Pieces for Violin and Cello

    Reinhold Moritzevich Glière (Jan. 11, 1875 - June 23, 1956) was a Russian/Soviet composer and violinist born in Kiev, of German-Polish descent. Son of a wind instrument maker, Glière's father noticed his son's talent, and enrolled him in the Kiev School of Music, where he played violin. In 1894 he entered the Moscow Conservatory, and graduated in 1900, after composing a one act opera entitled...
  4. Obscure Music Monday: Fleury-Roy's Fantaisie for Viola and Piano

    Hélène-Gabrielle Fleury-Roy (June 21, 1876 - April 18, 1957) was a French composer, pianist, and teacher, and the first woman ever to win a prize for the Prix de Rome composition competition. Continue reading →
  5. Obscure Music Monday: Rolla's 6 Idylles for Viola

    Antonio Rolla (April 18, 1798 - March 19, 1837) was born in Parma, Italy, and played violin, viola, and composer. He was considered a virtuoso on both instruments. Continue reading →
  6. Obscure Music Monday: Bax's Trio in One Movement

    Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax (Nov. 8, 1883 - Oct. 3, 1953) was an English poet, author, and composer. His output was prolific, and spanned several genres, from choral works to chamber pieces to orchestral music. His music was for a while neglected, and then revived, though predominantly as recordings; we still don't see his work programmed very often in concert halls, save a few compositions. Continue reading →
  7. Obscure Music Monday: Turina's Scene Andalouse

    Joaquin Turina (Dec. 9, 1882 - Jan. 14, 1949) was born in Seville, where music was a significant part of his upbringing. He tried his hand at studying medicine, but music was his ultimate calling. He studied in both Seville and Madrid, and from 1905 - 1914, he studied composition with Vincent d'Indy at the Schola Cantorum de Paris. He was attracted to the style of Debussy and Ravel, but his interests changed course, however, when he met fellow countrymen Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albinez, who encouraged him to embrace his Spanish and Andalucian heritage. His Scene Andalouse was written for viola, piano, and string quartet, and is in two movements. Continue reading →
  8. Obscure Music Mondays: Glinka's Viola Sonata

    Mikhail Glinka (June 1, 1804 - Feb. 15, 1857)  has often been called the father of Russian classical music; his works were strong influences on Mussorgsky, Borodin, and Rimsky-Korsakov, just to name a few. HIs output as a composer was considerable; he wrote operas, symphonic works, chamber pieces, and more. Today we are looking at  his Viola Sonata, a work that is often forgotten about among his large number of works. Continue reading →
  9. Obscure Music Monday: Jongen's Trio for Violin, Viola & Piano

    The music of Belgian composer Joseph Jongen is often overlooked outside of his works for organ (we looked at a work for viola & piano a few months ago). Jongen’s dramatic style and lush harmonies, however, sound wonderful in his works for other instruments, like his rarely hear Trio for Piano, Violin & Viola ('Prélude, Variations and Finale’), Op. 30 that we look at today, written in 1906-1907. Continue reading →
  10. Obscure Music Monday: Fibich's Piano Quartet

    Zdenek_FibichThough often overshadowed by his Czech contemporary, Antonin Dvorak, Zdeněk Fibich was a very talented composer during the late 19th century. Best known today for his theatrical works and the piano series Moods, Impressions, and Reminiscences. While a powerful symphony writer, Fibich is often at his best in his chamber works, such as the Piano Quartet we present today. Continue reading →

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