Differences

Description

Viola, Piano — DIFFERENCES was composed in February 1998 for cellist Derek Snyder and transcribed by the composer for viola. The work is comprised of five short movements, very much like a suite or partita in the Baroque style. However, the individual little pieces are radically different from each other in style and content. Originally, the intent was to transcribe an earlier chamber work, Dance Partita, in its entirety (resulting in seven or eight movements). Instead, the project grew into its own as the work progressed. The only movements taken from the chamber piece arexa0Air and Country Dance.Strand is a kind of pop tune where the viola has the vocal line. The piano supplies harmonies and rhythms against which the viola sings. Different from an actual pop tune, the rhythms are a bit more complex and sometimes jarring.Air takes its language from the Baroque. As in that period, the title refers to the “canto” style of long legato vocal lines over a slow and undulating accompaniment.Country Dance is a peasant tune. The middle section is very pastoral (with church bells) in which one might imagine the drone of bagpipes over the countryside.Blues, very different from the preceding movement, is a small chance for the performers to show a little soul.Song, like Strand, is a pop tune. This one is a bit more direct in its tone and somewhat more recognizable as it draws its language from the late 70s and early 80s.— Carter Pann Pann's Differences is originally a suite for cello and piano, comprised of five short movements, very much like a Baroque suite or partita. The individual pieces, however, are radically different from each other in style and content. (Kennedy) Robert Carl, writing in Fanfare Magazine, said of Differences, There's a very strong influence of middle Stravinsky, but there's also a wailing blues movement, and most happily, a third movement dance that is perhaps the first neo-Gottschalk piece I've ever heard. We are pleased to present Pann's transcription of the work for viola. For advanced performers.