Concerto for Viola and Orchestra

Margaret Brouwer

2009

Viola, orchestra

The Concerto for Viola and Orchestra was commissioned by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and is dedicated to violist, Ellen Rose. The concerto musically describes a person (the soloist) who is on an internal journey. In the first movement the solo part begins in a mood of questioning and anger, contrasted with an orchestral atmosphere of blurred color and melodic fragments that suggest the chant, Ubi Caritas. Under the influence of the orchestra, the passionato mood of the soloist gradually dissolves, turning to a mood of compassion and charity with only occasional references to the opening tensions. Near the end of the movement, the solo viola plays Ubi Caritas, accompanied only by low string harmonics and flute. This is followed by a melody inspired by Caritas, first in orchestral tutti, and then solo viola. The second movement, ...fair as the moon, bright as the sun... is simply a love song. Opening with soft breathless motion in the orchestra, "like a light breeze through white clouds", it quickly goes to a melody in the viola that exudes warmth, pleasure, and delight. The name is taken from the biblical, Song of Songs (6:10). The same chant, Ubi Caritas, is referred to near the end of the movement in the lower strings. The last movement, Blithesome Spirit continues the light-hearted mood and becomes buoyantly playful, mischievous, and sometimes a bit jaunty.
Ubi caritas tas et amor, Deus ibi est. (Where charity and love are, God there is found.)