VIOLA ROCK SONATA

for Viola and Piano 1984

David Hellewell

Written partly to redress the balance of neglect which the viola has suffered, the sonata is a virtuoso work for both instruments, making no technical or musical concessions, and combines rock, jazz and classical techniques and idioms on a large scale. The work is in many continuous sections ranging from exuberant, swinging rock, to jazz and tender and grandiose baroque.

The work was written for Michael Stubbs, and received its premier, with the composer at the piano, at Canford School, Dorset in June 1984. The piece is of 17 minutes duration.