Viola
Duration: 3 minutes
Each FortEtude is a short study on the theme of bravery, technically challenging while allowing expressive freedom. I expanded the series in 2020 for friends whose ensembles had closed during the quarantine. I wanted to spotlight instruments we rarely hear unaccompanied.
Here, the viola plays ever longer and rangier phrases, with increasingly dramatic double stops. Premiered by Jonathan Vinocour as part of the San Francisco Symphony 1:1 concert series, 7/16/20.