Judith Shatin

Viola and Piano

Composer's Note:

Doxa was commissioned by and is dedicated to violist Rosemary Glyde. I met Rosemary on my first day at the Aspen Music Festival in 1971 and this led to a wonderful friendship and ongoing collaboration. She commissioned multiple pieces, including not only Doxa, but also Glyph (solo viola, string quartet & piano) and L’etude du Coeur. She also premiered Arche (viola concerto), as well as performing it with the Houston Symphony. "Doxa" is a Greek word meaning radiance; it is perhaps more familiar as the root of the word Doxology. The incandescent quality of Rosemary’s playing prompted the title. In turn, it served as a springboard for the sweeping gestures that articulate the form of this concert piece. She premiered it, as well as performing L’etude du Coeur, on her Tully Hall recital. I am grateful to both Rosemary and violist Sally Chisholm for their editorial suggestions.

Review:

“Two works by Judith Shatin, her L’étude du Coeur for Solo Viola (1984) and her Doxa for Viola and Piano (a world premiere; both are dedicated to Glyde) proved musically riveting and brilliantly devised for the instrument.” –The Strad