Walton viola Concerto beyond the score

Alberto García Pérez

The Walton Viola Concerto is one of the most famous and recognized compositions in the viola repertoire. Apart from this, it is a compulsory piece in any viola orchestra audition. This research is focused on my practice and artistic process of the Walton Concerto, consequently subjective, to create an artistic choice. In order to achieve an ideal interpretation of this composition, I will investigate and analyze the first two recordings made of the Concerto, as both represent different versions of the piece with several differences between them. These recordings were made by Frederick Riddle in 1937, and by the famous violist William Primrose in 1946. This research aims to: (1) decide what details or alternatives I can recover from these recordings to inspire my own interpretation, and (2) find out what ideas from the first recording are reflected in the second one. Taking into consideration these recordings, I first drew up a list mentioning the differences found between them. Then, I classified these differences into different categories such as bowings, different notes, fingerings, orchestration, and so on. Finally, I recorded myself playing both versions of some passages. The main outcome I found is to discover that the sound-based approach (listening to recordings and experimenting with them) is a richer source of inspiration for a musician than a purely score-based comparison. I hope these artistic ideas can be a great stimulus and encouragement to other violists who want to play this wonderful Concerto.

LIST OF SOURCES (BIBLIOGRAPHY)

BOOKS

Craggs, Stewart R. (2014): William Walton. A catalogue. United Kingdom. Oxford University Press.
Dalton, David. (1988): Playing the viola: Conversations with William Primrose. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kennedy, Michael. (1989): Portrait of Walton. United States: Oxford University Press.
Lloyd, Stephen. (2001): William Walton: Music of fire. London: The Boydell Press.
Morgan, Robert. (1994): La música del siglo XX. Madrid: Ediciones Akal.
Tertis, Lionel. (1974): My viola and I. London, Paul Elek.
Tierney, Neil. (2014): William Walton: His Life and Music. London: Robert Hale Limited.
Wellington, Christopher. (2014): William Walton, Viola Concerto. United Kingdom. Oxford University Press.

THESIS

Héroux, Isabelle. (2018): Creative Processes in the Shaping of a Musical Interpretation: A Study of Nine Professional Musicians. Montréal, Canadá.
Milisavljevic, Milan (2011): The Evolution of Viola Playing as Heard in Recordings of William Walton’s Viola Concerto. Houston, Texas.

ARTICLES

Dunham, James F. (2006): The Walton Viola Concerto. A synthesis. Journal of the American Viola Society. Volume 22, Number 1.
Haylock, Julian (2018): Concierto para viola y orquesta (1928-29) Revisión (1962). The Amati Magazine.
Jara Hernández, Elver Edilson. (2929): Consideraciones musicales del primer movimiento del Concierto para viola y orquesta de William Walton a partit de diferentes referencias musicales. Bogotá D.C.

ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLES

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Edition 2, 2011.

SCORES

Walton, William. (2014): Viola Concerto. Study score. (Printed score). For viola and orchestra. Edited by Christopher Wellington. United Kingdom. Oxford University Press.
Walton, William. (2002): Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. Reduction for Viola and Piano. (Printed Score). Edited by Christopher Wellington. Oxford University Press.
Walton, William: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. (Printed score). Piano reduction by Geoffrey Pratley. Great Britain. Oxford University Press 1930 and 1993.
Walton, William: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. (Printed score). Viola Solo. Great Britain. Oxford University Press 1930. Renewed in U.S.A. 1958.

DISCOGRAPHY

Bashmet, Yuri. (2002): William Walton. Collected Works. UK and Ireland Lrd, BMG, 74321 92575.
Neubauer, Paul. (2001): William Walton. London, DECCA MUSIC GROUP LIMITE, 470 200-2.
Riddle, Frederick. (1937): Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. Frederick Riddle with the London Symphony conducted by William Walton. U.S.A, Decca Album, No. 8.

RECORDINGS (YOUTUBE)

Aponte, Orlando. (17 August 2007): William Primrose plays the Walton viola Concerto. (Video file). Accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMw7x5F5U-s
Hr-Sinfonieorchester – Frankfurt Radio Symphony. (4 April 2018): Walton: Bratschenkoncert. Hr-Sinfonieorchester. Atoine Tamestit. Manfred Honeck. Accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P23GdaDcPkU&t=291s
shellackophile. (30 July 2015): Walton Viola Concerto (Frederick Riddle, 1937). (Video file). Accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu6XHpWIYrg&t=29s
TheWelleszCompany. (4 June 2011): William Walton: Concerto per viola e orchestra (1929). (Video file). Accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYCTKjc1iQM&t=711s

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