Caltabiano: Lyric Duo, for Viola and Harp

Lyric Duo

Duration:

11 min.

Year:

1979

Viola and Harp

Catalog No.:

441-41018

	Opening (53" -- 422 K)		download

In 1979, when writing Lyric Duo, my compositional concerns were with combining, in a unified and meaningful way, several different, even opposing elements: variation and development forms, lush textures and pointillism, tonal centers and serialism, rhythmic organization and freedom. Any of these opposing elements can be seen early in Lyric Duo.

The piece opens with an aggressive theme centering on C. This is quickly followed by a slow, lyric theme on F-sharp. Over the course of the work, the first theme goes through a series of contrasting variations; sometimes the contrasts are between the variations and sometimes between the two instruments within one variation. Dividing the three groups of variations are two development sections based on the slower theme. These sections are at times lush and melodic, and occasionally colorfully pointillistic, with sul ponticello and sul tasto pizzicato passages in the viola and harmonics at the twelfth in the harp.

The large structure, including tempi and tonal centers, as well as most of the surface rhythm, are a result of my initial research into a rhythmic organization similar in some ways to Wuorinen's time point system. I use it, like all serial procedures in this work, quite freely. The final section, a coda, is entirely free, as the tonal tensions and thematic ideas of the entire work are heard for a last time.

-- R.C

A change from the fragmentary nature of much contemporary music is the Lyric Duo for viola and harp.... The one-movement work has firm shape and direction, alternating between insistent repeated-note material and lyrical wide-ranging melodies. The instruments are both fully exploited and dialogue textures are refreshingly inventive.
-- The Musical Times [London]

Two tightly argued and imaginatively conceived instrumental pieces went far to explain the impressive list of honors and commissions Ronald Caltabiano has achieved. Lyric Duo for viola and harp sets out to combine opposing musical elements - and that is a theme that runs through both the music and the dramaturgy of Mr. Caltabiano's output to date.
-- The New York Times