Violists... please review?

Hi, I'm nearly complete with the first movement of my oboe concerto, and I just want to get a little feedback on a short but difficult viola solo.

The tempo is dotted half = 68-72 (quarter = 204-216), though understandably, it will probably be slower in performance. The feel should be, for lack of a better term, "sultry" or "seductively".

I missed a few slurs (since added to the score) at the bariolage part.

Please forgive the "rawness" of the part, this hasn't been cleaned up at all, as I'm still working on the score. :P

Any and all thoughts from string players are appreciated!

Thanks,

-Flint

The only portion I could foresee any problem would be the grace note(s) in measure 258. Not a big problem with practice though.

At a slow tempo, I'm not sure why that grace note would be a problem. It involves open strings mostly.

is it a slow tempo?

The tempo is dotted half = 68-72 (quarter = 204-216)

I'm thinking mainly of the execution itself, Eb/G to C at that fast tempo - would be like a quick roll....iono have to try it i suppose.

Right now it's pretty fast, I may have to re-think the temp for the comfort of the oboe and viola soloists.

(hrm... "sultry" and "fast" == "corny"? LOL)

I'm looking at the fingering of that bar, and it really doesn't look terribly hard.

2nd finger on the 1st Eb (C string)

1st finger on the Eb (D string)

the rest is open string

Considering it's staccato as well, I don't see it as a serious problem. Especially that it's a solo passage. As a sectional there MIGHT have been an issue of them playing really together (they're being violists and all).

Its not really difficult, but the effect from this marking would be a roll (almost broken chord, given the double stop in the grace)... and again, as I said with practice its doable... would have to try it (as I said). Just going off of looks..

Yes, that's actually what I'm envisioning... basically a broken chord arpreggiated downward to the C (basically the exact opposite of the G chord in measure 267).

Would an alternate method of notation make that clearer? Perhaps notating two grace notes instead of joining them together as one double stop?

Either way, it's fine; I'm certain the performers will be able to tell what you mean. I could.

This is fairly easy overall. 264-265 could pose a challenge, but if you have a decent soloist, I would not worry about it at all.

Thank you for asking. It's always nice when composers actually show concern for makind their string parts playable. (Well, at your level that's probably expected, but nevertheless...:P)

My primary instrument is the viola and I don't think it would be all that difficult. I wouldn't worry about it all too much.

258 is playable exactly as written at tempo of quarter=204 with 2 grace notes sounding together if it's played in second position, in this case it's not at all difficult; the notation is perfectly clear if that's what you want.

264 & 265 are also no problem for the left hand if played in second position, although at a tempo of 204 should be one bow over the 3 notes of the triplet.