Janos Vajda

Sonata for Solo Viola (2004)

This virtuoso concert piece was originally composed for viola in 2004. (The version for violoncello was written in 2006, and the version for violin in 2010.) As with other works by János Vajda, the well-proportioned structure of the solo sonata and its wealth of melodic invention alongside the presence of classical models is clearly perceptible, but conceived in a characteristically postmodern manner. The three movements represent three different characters: the dancing rhythm of the main theme reappears in the last movement as a lively toccata the middle movement, which abounds in pre-classical figurations, evokes the singing, fantasia-like slow movements of the 18thcentury. The two outer movements are based on the same theme, and the characteristic intervals of this musical idea recur in the slow movement as well. This work was premiered in 2004 by Katalin Kokas.