Nils Mönkemeyer, the violist on this album, makes bold adaptations to Vivaldi's bassoon concerto, including octave doublings and multiple-stopping, to create a 'fireworks display' on the viola.
Compositional Technique
Giuseppe Tartini's 'L'arte del arco' is a teaching manual for string players that examines the art of bowing through fifty variations on a gavotte by Arcangelo Corelli.
Recording & Production
The album includes world premiere recordings of Alessandro Rolla's Arpeggio in E-flat major, BI 7, and his Romanza nell'Otello from 6 Pezzi di Murie Ridotti per Viola Sola.
Composer Biography
Antonio Vivaldi, a violinist, was known for his astonishing virtuosity, with one contemporary observer noting he played with his fingers so close to the bridge there was no room for the bow.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album's concept is to capture the spirit of composers like Vivaldi, Tartini, Rolla, and Paganini, who primarily saw themselves as musicians and performers, not just desk-bound composers.
Composer Biography
Alessandro Rolla, a teacher of Niccolò Paganini, was a proficient violinist but made his debut on the viola at age fifteen with his own composition, and wrote a dozen viola concertos.
Compositional Technique
Vivaldi's Violin Concerto in D major, RV 208 'Il Grosso Mogul', features 'hair-raising difficulties' for the soloist, including multiple-stopping, wide intervals, and rapid passagework.
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