Lowry: Suite for Viola and Piano: V. "...peace transcendent" (Premiere)

This is the world premiere recording of the fifth and final movement of my "Suite for Viola and Piano" (Opus 5), performed by Jennifer McGuire and me as part of Blair's "Living Sounds Series." Each of the five movements represents a dream—not any dream in particular, but rather a specific kind of dream. The fifth movement, "...peace transcendent," is a dream of calm after the storm. Having just battled two nightmares, the dreamer is overcome by a feeling of overwhelming peace that transcends all troubles and fears. This tranquility is depicted through a sort of harmonic stasis, quite similar to the Vaughan Williams-esque atmosphere created in the first movement, but also owing much to Maurice Ravel. Equally as important as the peace is the struggle to retain this peace, an idea represented in the middle section of the movement. This lullaby section develops organically and builds in dynamics and intensity to the pinnacle of emotion, as the dreamer tries desperately to hold on to the sensation of peace, feeling that it is threatened. As things begin to calm down, the original themes return, this time slightly jaded by harmonic ambiguities. All darkness and negative emotions begin to evanesce as the piano modulates to a different key; a voice in the distance cries out, practically begging to stay in the old key, but it eventually resolves and peacefully fades away in the new key, almost as if it was trying to get there all along.

"Suite for Viola and Piano," Opus 5 (2008-09)
V. "...peace transcendent"

Christopher Lowry, viola
Jennifer McGuire, piano

November 4, 2009. Steve and Judy Turner Recital Hall, Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University; Nashville, TN.

This movement is copyright 2009 by Christopher Lowry.
Apologies for the slight offset between audio and video -- I ran out of patience trying to fix it. I am hoping to perform the full Suite sometime in the near future; after then, I will upload all 5 movements and make the score and parts available for purchase.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lowry
• Suite
• Viola
• Bratsche
• Braccio
• l'alto
• Piano
• Pianoforte
• Con
• Sord
• Sordino
• Mute
• HotelMute
• PracticeMute
• Sul
• Tasto
• Harmonics
• HarmonicGliss
• Pastoral
• Blair
• Vanderbilt
• University
• Turner
• LivingSounds
• Chamber
• Kammermusik
• Recital