19th Annual Student Research Conference
Fine Arts
Viola as Virtuoso in the Mannheim School: Stamitz Concerto in D Major
Sarah Billing* and Avril Frick
Dr. Sam McClure, Faculty Mentor
Carl Stamitz’s Viola Concerto in D Major is a standard in the viola repertoire, requested at most professional orchestra auditions for its vibrant technicality and expression. The work is representative of the early Classical period style developed in Mannheim, where Carl’s father Johann led the orchestra to unprecedented technical precision, shaping the historical development of the orchestra and affecting later Classical composers like Mozart. Carl and his brother Johann were famous throughout Europe as string virtuosos; in fact, the Concerto in D Major was likely written to showcase the composer’s skills as a violist. The first movement is an extended sonata form notable for progressive techniques such as extended string crossing passages designed to showcase the soloist. The short andante moderato emphasizes the viola’s unique tone color while a concluding rondo sparkles with the energy appropriate to end such a delightful work.
Keywords: Stamitz, viola, concerto, Mannheim, music, strings
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 46-1
Location: OP 1393, Performance Hall
Time: 2:45