Word: viola
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More conservative and immediately accessible are John Austin's Four Modal Canons. Scored for two violins and viola, they follow the old principle of the "round": one viola leads off and the others enter later playing exactly the same notes. The limitations are obvious; all variety must proceed from harmonies produced by the passage of voices and from little imitative figures as each enters. Austin's first canon produces lovely sonorities and a mood of serenity that help sustain its length. In the second, however, parts too closely spaced give the effect of tedious repetition. Although the others are better...
...paucity of compositions for violin and viola is not difficult to explain. The timbres of the two instruments make perfect blending almost impossible, unless the violin is stripped of its brilliance, or the viola is forced to produce sounds not indigenous to it. Many concert artists are unwilling to make the necessary compromises, and most composers, fearing neglect, channel their talents elsewhere. But yesterday's recital by Joseph and Lillian Fuchs demonstrated that music in this medium does deserve a place in the concert hall, and does respond to sensitive, balanced performances...
...other combination seems possible. Such is not the case with the other duo work on the program, Martinu's Three Madrigals. This is good, strong stuff, but has little instrumental logic. Of course, not all local color is eliminated, and there are several very impressive effects: the viola is often used as a percussive instrument, and the skilful utilization of mutes gives an eerie flavor to the second madrigal. But nearly always, another instrument would have been equally effective. It seems to me that a piano could have been used to great advantage in many places. And a slithering melody...
...largely to the sudden, rapid shifts in tonality. Textural variety is achieved by frequent solo passages in which one of the instruments takes a long, vocal line with semi-estinato accompaniment. Taken as a whole, the Three Madrigals may very likely become a permanent part of the violin-viola repertory...
20th Century Concert Hall (Sun. i p.m., CBS). First radio performance of Alan Hovhaness' Concerto for Viola and Strings...