Not Just a Big Violin Anymore!
Research developments in 19th century Viola pedagogy and performance practices
The greater independence and emergence of the viola in the 19th century led to a flourishing of instructional material from composers and performers, who had previously never supplied music specifically written to teach the viola. As composers began to demand more of the violist in this period, particularly in chamber music, composer-performers supplied pedagogical works which could properly teach a violist to play their instrument independent of concurrent schools of violinist training. Much of this music was written for violinists learning to play the viola, and often was written in the form of duos for viola and violin or two violas. This music occupied a special place: for the first time, there was music written especially for the viola meant to show and teach its unique qualities, free of its relation to the violin.
The purpose of this lecture recital is to demonstrate recent research into the pedagogy of the viola in the 19th century. This research will illustrate what the teaching of the viola in the 19th century can show us today about the values of musicians and teachers of the 19th century, as well as provide insight into select performance practices of violists of this period. Performers and teachers of historically informed practices can use these ideas to gain greater insight into viola playing in the 19th century, as well as to attain new perspectives on the attitudes of 19th century musicians in general, in order to further our growth and understanding of 19th century HIP.
Also featuring: Romaric Pokorny, historical violas, and Corentin Pokorny, historical violin
Musical selections to include:
Bernhard Brähmig (1822-1872): excerpts from Practische Bratschenschule (1869)
Michel Corrette (1707-1795): Two Minuets from Methodes pour apprendre a jouer de la Contre-Basse, de la Quinte ou Alto, et de la Viole d'Orphee (1773)
Michel Joseph Gebauer (1763-1812): excerpts from Méthode d’alto (ca.1805)
Ferdinando Giorgetti (1796-1867): excerpts from Metodo per esercitarsi a ben suonare l'Alto-Viola (ca.1854)
Otto Langey (1851-1922): excerpts from Celebrated Tutor for Viola (1891)
Edmund Kupfer (fl.1850-1910): excerpts from 21 Übungstücke für Viola alta (1890)
Alessandro Rolla (1757-1841): Giro Armonico per Viola con Accompagnamento d’un Violino, Op. posth., BI 315
Rolla: Arpeggio Per Viola e Violino in E-flat major, BI 7
Rolla: Allegro Maestoso from Sonata for Viola with Violin Accompaniment in E-flat major, BI 65 (1824)