45th International Viola Congress 2018

Venue: De Doelen, Jurriaanse Zaal

Programme:
Tigran Mansurian: Three Taghs
György Kurtág: Selections from Signs, Games and Messages
Linda Bouchard: Pourtinade
- intermission - 
Soghomon Komitas: Armenian Song Cycle
Luciano Berio: Naturale for viola, percussion and recorded voice

Artists:
Kim Kashkashian, viola
Robyn Schulkowsky, percussion

Description:
Music for the combination of viola and percussion is rarely heard. In this programme, the renowned Armenian-American violist Kim Kashkashian is joined by percussionist Robyn Schulkowsky, with whom she has an ongoing collaboration for many years.

The programme contains clear references to Kashkashian's roots. The Three Medieval Taghs (a ‘tagh’ is a lament) were written for Kashkashian by the Armenian composer Mansurian, and the Armenian folk songs collected by Komitas emerge in a new appearance with this instrumentation. The folk songs are also a central element of Naturale, albeit in the unique musical world of Luciano Berio.

Just like Kurtág's playful Signs, Games and Messages for viola solo, Linda Bouchard's Pourtinade poses extreme challenges for the creativity of the artists: this work consists of 9 musical elements, the order of which can be decided by the performers. The instrumentalists have more than interpretive freedom; they are given control over the dramatic flow of the piece. The message changes according to the juxtaposition of the abstract imagery.

Program Notes:
Pourtinade (1990) by Linda Bouchard
for viola and percussion
Pourtinade is a collage of condensed statements, each a separate entity but related to one another stylistically and structurally. The order of the five main sections and four transition segments is left to the decision of the performers. The score suggests alternating main and transitional sections, and sections can be repeated. In Pourtinade the instrumentalists have more than interpretive freedom; they are given control over the dramatic flow of the piece. The message changes according to the juxtaposition of the abstract imagery.
The movements are entitled:
- Gerbe (bunch or spray);
- La Meute (the pack of wolves);
- Ressac-Rompu (broken undertow);
- L'abandon Etroit (narrow abandon);
- Bruine-Derision (sarcastic drizzle);