Fanfare for Violas (1995)

8 to 24 Violas – 8 mins.

Audio

Score (Free Download)

Program Note

Fanfare for Violas was commissioned by Atar Arad and Alan de Veritch to serve as the opening piece for the XXIII International Viola Congress at IU in June of 1995.  The piece grew to be longer, wider, and more virtuosic than the dedicatees or composer had anticipated — there were just too many fascinating ideas suggested by massed violas, and too few occasions to realize them.  The fanfare is written for 8, 16, or 24 violas.  Bloomington is one of the few places where putting together a double-digit viola choir is not too daunting a proposition: if it hadn’t been for the Bloomington Pops and Columbus Symphony rehearsals, we might have never have had 50 on stage!