Sonatas for Viola and Piano by American Composers

Viola and Piano

These three sonatas for viola and piano illuminate the rich variety of tonal and musical ideas that emerged against the background of the middle of the American twentieth century. Written within a decade of each other, their juxtaposition reveals certain musical trends: all three make a point of containing both lyrical ideas and technical, sprightly passages, avoiding the concept of the viola as a mournful elegiac instrument, but each composer uses a distinct tonal and structural approach.

All three sonatas are of advanced or professional difficulty. This is due partly to technical demands, and partly due to the violist needing to adjust to the pitch tendencies of each harmonic language.

Contents:

Ulysses Kay - Sonata for Viola and Piano (1942)
Edith Borroff - Sonatina Giocosa for Viola and Piano (1952)
Miriam Gideon - Sonata for Viola and Piano (1946)