Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Paul Chihara - Concerto Piccolo for Four Violas - Viola Concerto - Redwood, for Viola and Percussion - Sonata for Viola and Piano - Paul Coletti, Viola - The Colburn Orchestra, dir. Yehuda Gilad - Bridge Records 2013

Viola fanciers (and anyone who loves listening to great music) rejoice! Here is a fantastic recording of Viola music by Paul Chihara including the wondrous Viola Concerto. It's a work that imho should be in the Viola repertoire the world over. The same can be said for the Viola Sonata, it's pure joy from start to finish and one of the finest ways I can think of to spend (just under 12) minutes. I hate to sound selfish but it is all so very well written that I'd like another 12 minutes. After much thought I came up with a magical solution; it's called play-and-repeat. It works like a charm, should you too feel so compelled ;)  


"Redwood" for Viola and Percussion is one of my favorite Chihara works and the "Concerto Piccolo" for four Violas is quite 'piccolo' indeed at only 7+ minutes, however it's entirely successful; compact with fanciful and energetic moments that last until the 4th movement "Aka Tombo" (Red Dragonfly) which has slower, eerie harmonies based on a Japanese folksong of the same name. The disc concludes with a nice bonus, an eight-minute Q&A style conversation between composer Paul Chihara and founder of Bridge Records, David Starobin.


This post shall be continued later today. It's just become Thursday, a long Wednesday is *finally* and happily fading over here.. 

Enjoy everyone!

Paul_Chihara-Viola_Concerto_Viola_Works-Tzadik.zip

http://www34.zippyshare.com/v/5vQNDplr/file.html

8 comments:

AT said...

Being an amateur viola player myself, I do collect as much viola concertos as possible.
Many thanks and regards from The Netherlands.
Veel dank en groeten uit Nederland.

cjvinthechair said...

Took me by surprise, this one - did I know this composer ? Actually, yes, but had forgotten: playing double bass concerto as I write. Also went on YT to see if there was more, & there surely is, including a saxophone concerto & a short Mass & Magnificat.
Nice music - thanks for reminding me !

Unknown said...

Gracias por este autor desconocido y su VIOLA CONCERTO,Tzadik!!!!!!!!!!!!una primicia,por cierto,un abrazo,tu amigo de las pampas irredentas,Tapirman!!

Tzadik said...

Greetings Toon. I thought of you when posting this one, assuming you'd enjoy it :)

TZ

Tzadik said...

Hi there Cjv, you are quite welcome for the memory refreshment ;) I do not know his Double Bass Concerto at all, I will have to seek it out at some point.

Good weekend friend,

TZ

Tzadik said...

Hola Doc T, espero que su fin de semana es un gran y musical de un hasta ahora :-) En cuanto a mí, mi hermana dio a luz a una niña esta mañana temprano, y ahora que estoy de regreso de visitar a ella en el hospital yo "soy de pasar el resto del día en casa con grabaciones y café. Una de mis combinaciones recreativas favoritas! -Chihara Es un muy buen compositor, y tengo más de su música para enviar entradas.

Abrazos y hi-cinco a mi hermano Argentian,

TZ

Unknown said...

Felicitaciones novel tío,grata noticia,un cálido abrazo Tzadik,bienvenida la vida,por Dios y las musas.En cto. Chihara tenia ya ´´Redwood´´ en un cd ECM,de 1992 con la primera versión en cd de VIOLA sonata de Shostakovich,un disco inolvidable,y ahora escucho más obras de este autor maravilloso y sereno,sube más opus del composer,dale? gracias Tzadik,ah,yo prefiero un buen te,con alfajores de dulce de leche y música en mi minicomponetes de audio,saludos,amigo!! Tapirman

Tzadik said...

Gracias por las amables palabras querida Marcello, esta es su segunda niña, así que estoy un tío dos veces :) Yo no sabía del '92 ECM graba con "Redwood", pero ahora, por supuesto, me gustaría oír ¡ello! He sido aficionado de esta pieza durante mucho tiempo, pero tengo una grabación privada que se hizo en Brooklyn, Nueva York hace unos años, así que sólo puedo comparar ese rendimiento amada con este disco reciente Chihara. Hmm me gusta el té mucho, pero tengo una tendencia a olvidar lo bonito que es tener hasta que estoy enferma y que sea mucho! Verde Tés, Jasmine, Ramita té y Lapsong Suchong me gusta especialmente.

Sé bien que mi hombre principal

TZ