VIOLA REPERTOIRE
by
Sally Beamish
CONCERTOS
Concerto no.1
Viola and chamber orchestra
(piano reduction available)
Based on the story of St Peter’s denials
Concerto no.2 : The Seafarer
Viola and chamber orchestra
(piano reduction available)
Based on the 9th century Anglo-Saxon poem: The Seafarer
Concerto no.3 : Under the Wing of the Rock
Viola and strings
(piano reduction available)
Based on a story from the Glencoe Massacre (1692)
VIOLA AND PIANO
Halbkreis
An early work, written for the composer’s teacher, Bruno Giuranna
Sule Skerrie
A rock near Orkney Islands, home to seals and legends of selkies
Sonata for viola and piano
Inspired by Clara Schumann: drawing on Robert Schumann’s Frauenliebe und leben
Merula Perpetua
Built on the song of a blackbird
SOLO VIOLA
Pennillion
Inspired by the Welsh crwth
The Wise Maid
Irish Folk tune with variations. Originally for cello, and arranged for viola by Jenny Wilkinson
That Recent Earth
Based on a 14th century pre-Islamic mourning poem
Ariel
One of several pieces related to the ballet ‘The Tempest’
Glanz
Written in memory of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and based on a fragment from Schönberg’s Verklärte nacht
MULTI-VIOLA WORKS
Two violas:
Prelude and Canon
Originally for two violins: written to celebrate a Stradivarius and a modern copy
Four violas:
Bratchwork
A short birthday piece for Annette Morreau incorporating 10 quotations from the viola repertoire. Later arranged for massed violas for Bruno Giuranna’s 80th birthday.
Six violas:
A Farewell
One of a group of six chamber pieces written as a farewell to Scotland.
CHAMBER MUSIC FEATURING MORE THAN ONE VIOLA
Epilogue
String Quintet (2 violas)
Meditation on a theme by Thomas Tallis
The Wiser Maid
String Sextet
An extension of the solo piece ‘The Wise Maid’
The Wedding at Cana
String Sextet
Based on the New Testament story
Partita
String Octet
Takes themes from Bach, Mendelssohn and Handel
VIOLA PLUS
Buzz
Viola and soprano
Setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson
Duet for Martin
Viola and cello
Written for the 50th birthday of Martin Dalby
Between Earth and Sea
Flute, viola and harp
In memory of the twin daughters of a friend.
The King’s Alchemist
String trio: violin, viola and cello
Based on the story of John Damian – 16th century alchemist at Stirling Castle
RELATED ARTICLES
How the theft of my viola turned me into a composer (Merula Perpetua) - The Guardian
'I'm hoping we're moving towards a time when gender simply isn't an issue' (A Farewell) - The List
Contemporary composer: Sally Beamish - Kate Molleson, Gramophone Magazine
All a question of keeping faith: A thief, a viola, and a hard choice - The Independent