The Penn State Viola Ensemble
The Penn State Viola Ensemble's
new CD of works by Scott Slapin, entitled
"Hail Cremonus"
is now available.
Members of the Penn State Viola Ensemble in alphabetical order:
Charles Alves (tracks 6-9), Sylvia Biscoveanu (1-5&10), David Bojanowski (1-5&10), Sarah Files (1-5&10), Lauren Flack (1-5&10), Celine Gosselin (1-5&10), Ryan Kohler (1&10), Fernanda Lastra (1&10), Bailey MacDowell (1-5&10), Ruben McFarlane (1-5&10), David Phillips (1-5&10), Benjamin Proto (1-5&10), Julie Renne (1&10), Fábio Saggin (1-10), Caroline Senko (1-5&10), Gabriella Stout (1-5&10). Director of the Penn State Viola Ensemble, Professor of Viola at Penn State, and soloist on track 7: Tim Deighton. Conductors Michael Dolan, tracks 1&10 and Assaf Bènraf tracks 2-5.
Jonathan Dexter, recording engineer.
In Spring 2015, the Penn State Viola Ensemble commissioned and premiered a new work by violist and composer Scott Slapin, entitled "Dialogues." We performed it in concerts in New York City, Washington D.C., and State College, PA, and subsequently recorded it for Scott and Tanya's CD, "Viola Centrism, The Opera." The success of this project lead to the more extensive "Hail Cremonus" CD project above.
Please click on the image for more information.
About the Ensemble
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The Penn State Viola Ensemble was formed in 1999 and has since appeared regularly on campus in chamber music and studio recitals, Common Hour, the Palmer Museum and Bach’s Lunch concert series, and Musica Nova concerts. It has also been featured on several New York Viola Society Collegial Concerts and at the Penn State ViolaFest. The Viola Ensemble has presented concerts for children, performed at high schools and middle schools in Central PA, including some side-by-side concerts, and given recitals at retirement homes in the area.
The ensemble plays a wide range of repertoire, including original works and transcriptions. It has performed numerous new compositions, including the world premieres of several works commissioned for the ensemble. Repertoire ranges from small chamber works for three or four violists to large conducted works for a dozen or more players. The ensemble provides students the opportunity to explore various roles as chamber musicians and section players. The Penn State Viola Ensemble is directed by Tim Deighton. |
Video
This is the world premiere performance of a work called "Theme Envy," collected and arranged (and conducted) by Penn State graduate conducting student and violist, Santiago Osorio, for the Penn State Viola Ensemble. We performed it several several times throughout the season.
Since the violas rarely get to play the melody, this piece seeks to redress the balance, albeit in a very small way.
From a live performance at St. Michael's Church, New York City, 4/12/15.
Since the violas rarely get to play the melody, this piece seeks to redress the balance, albeit in a very small way.
From a live performance at St. Michael's Church, New York City, 4/12/15.
"Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix, arranged for viola ensemble.
From a live performance at St. Michael's Church, New York City, 4/12/15.
From a live performance at St. Michael's Church, New York City, 4/12/15.
World Premiere of Scott Slapin's "Dialogues and Duels."
Composed for the Penn State Viola Ensemble and featured on Slapin's CD "Viola Centrism: The Opera" (see above).
Composed for the Penn State Viola Ensemble and featured on Slapin's CD "Viola Centrism: The Opera" (see above).
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This is the world premiere performance of a work composed by Tsan-Kuang Lee for the Penn State Viola Ensemble.
We subsequently performed it at several other venues. Based on a Taiwanese folk song, the piece is full of imaginative and colorful imagery.
For more information about TK's music visit: http://studio.tklee.com
We subsequently performed it at several other venues. Based on a Taiwanese folk song, the piece is full of imaginative and colorful imagery.
For more information about TK's music visit: http://studio.tklee.com
In addition to large-scale ensemble projects, the viola ensemble often breaks into smaller groups. The Graduate Viola Quartet has been featured in many performances, a selection of which are featured here:
PSU Viola Ensemble Repertoire List
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Daniel Adams Birds Sing in Other Places (2002) for Viola Sextet Bach (arr. Nodaira) Ciaccona de Bach (2000), Transformation pour quatre altos Bach (arr. Israel) Selected Chorales for Viola Quartet Paul Barsom Dance Secret (2003) for Eight Violas* Bartok (arr. Israel) Pieces for Children, vol. I, no. 12 Beethoven (arr. Israel) Theme and Variations from Septet, op. 20 Beethoven (arr. Tertis) Trio, op. 87 (orig. 2 oboes and cor anglais) Lauren Bernofsky Fantasia and Scherzo* Ernest Bloch (arr. Crane) Rhapsodie from Suite Hebraique, for solo viola and viola ensemble York Bowen Fantasie Quartet Frank Bridge Cradle Song Kenji Bunch Rise (and Shine) Paul Chihara Concerto Piccolo for Viola Quartet 1. Allegro 2. Tarantella* Benjamin Dale Introduction and Andante for 6 Violas, op. 5 Claude Debussy (arr. Shea) La fille aux cheveux de lin Marshall Fine Romance for Viola Quartet, op. 98 Five Medieval Motets (arr.) Robert Gardner View from the Rear Window* Geminiani Allegro Gershwin (arr. Little) Someone to Watch Over Me Percy Grainger Arrival Platform Humlet John Harbison Cuccaracia and Fugue John Hawkins Tri for Six Violas Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze Stephen S. Horn The Sporades Suite Gordon Jacob Suite for Eight Violas I. D. Jacobsen Three Varieties Scott Joplin Country Club Rag (arr. Kimber) Magnetic Rag (arr. Lieberman) Michael Kimber Celebration Fanfare Festival Overture* Viola Fight Song La Folia Variations Reflection Three Quirky Pieces Traveling Music Marvin Lamb House of Dawn* Tsan-Kuang Lee Thinn Ooh Ooh (Darkening Sky)* Christopher Lowry Romanza Mozart Divertimento K. 252 Santiago Osorio Theme Envy* Pachelbel (arr. Arnold) Canon in G Guido Papini Quartet for Four Violas Sergio Parotti Consort for Eight Violas, Op. 324, No. 2* Paul Pisk Ballade for Viola Sextet Henry Purcell (arr. Due) Dido’s Lament Schubert (arr. Israel) Moment Musicale, op. 94, no. 3 Paul Seitz Animas (There is a Wild River…)* Alan Shulman Two Episodes for Viola Quartet (Ancora and Night) Scott Slapin Dialogues* A Viola Audition* Fanfare for Cremonus* Cremonus in Italy* G.P. Telemann Concerto No. 1 in C for Four Violas Manuel Velázquez Sea Foam* Max von Weinzierl Nachtstück fur vier Violen, op. 34 Anton Wranitzky Cassatio in F major *commissioned and premiered by the Penn State Viola Ensemble |
