What do you call a gathering of violists? A conference.
What do you call a gathering of violinists? A competition.
The viola has always been the string section’s stepchild. Too big to be a violin and not big enough for a cello, the viola has been made fun of, maligned and made the punch line of hundreds of jokes.
That attitude towards the underappreciated instrument will hopefully change this weekend, at least in the Beehive State, when the Utah Viola Society hosts Viola Day 2.0 on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, a conference that organizers hope will become an annual event.
Roger Chase
Several local violists and groups, including the Utah Symphony’s Brant Bayless and Leslie Richards, the Fry Street Quartet and ensembles of area students, will participate. And the society has invited renowned English violist Roger Chase to be its special guest for the event.
“Roger is an impressive artist, a tremendous violist and one of the best out there in terms of representing string playing,” said Fry Street Quartet violist Brad Ottesen.
The three-day conference will be a musical feast, Ottesen promised. “Roger will be playing two recitals and giving a master class,” he said. There will also be an exhibition and demonstration of instruments made by local luthiers (string instrument makers).
Chase’s first recital takes place on Oct. 31 at Utah State University. “The first half will have Roger playing virtuoso viola music,” Ottesen said. “The second half features Mozart’s Quintet in C major.” For the quintet, Chase will join the Fry Street Quartet.
For his second recital, on Nov. 2, Chase will be in Salt Lake City, where he’ll be joined by pianist and longtime musical partner Michiko Otaki.
The program for this recital is dear to Chase’s heart. For years Chase has been performing and recording music by composers championed by legendary violist Lionel Tertis, who lived from 1876-1975. “Tertis is the grandfather of viola playing,” Ottesen said. “There wasn’t a lot of repertoire for the viola before Tertis, but he commissioned friends and contemporaries to write for him.”
Lionel Tertis (Photo: Courtesy of Friends of the Honeywell Museum)
As a result, there is a huge body of works for viola today, principally by English composers. Unfortunately, much of this music is unknown outside of the United Kingdom, but through Chase’s efforts these works now have the potential of reaching a broader audience. “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for viola nerds,” Ottesen said. “But Roger is such an artist and virtuoso, this will be an exciting recital for anyone.”
The program features a small selection of works that Tertis commissioned and played. Among the composers featured on the program are Arnold Bax and Arthur Bliss, two early 20th century figures who have achieved some international recognition.
“The music [that Tertis commissioned] is pretty wonderful,” Ottesen said. “It’s late romantic, verging on the avant garde. It’s rich in color, and there is some complex chromaticism going on, but the English pastoral tradition is also present. It’s a unique style of music.”
An interesting bit of viola trivia is the fact that Chase inherited Tertis’ viola, a Montagnana made around 1720. “This was the same instrument that premiered these works,” Ottesen said.
In between the two concerts there’s Viola Day!, an all-day event that will include a master class by Chase, performances, exhibitions and the premiere of a new string quintet, White Roses, by American composer Christopher Burns.
“Chris is the brother-in-law of Anne, our cellist [in the Fry Street Quartet], and Brant [Bayless]. He wrote it as a wedding present for them.”
Below is a schedule of events and locations. Tickets and where they can be purchased are listed after each entry. All events are free of charge for Utah Viola Society members.
- Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m., Performance Hall, Utah State University – “The Virtuoso Viola.” Program: Solo viola and chamber works, including Kodály’s transcription for solo viola of J.S. Bach’s Fantasia Chromatica; Alessandro Rolla’s Duo for Violin and Viola; Paganini’s Sonata per la Gran Viola; and Mozart’s Quintet in C major, K. 515. Performers: Roger Chase and the Fry Street Quartet. ($8-$10, www.arts.usu.edu/htm/box-office/)
- Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Dumke Recital Hall, David Gardner Hall, University of Utah – “Viola Day!!!!!,” a full day’s worth of events, including a master class with internationally renowned violist Roger Chase, an exhibition of local luthiers, a lecture/performance by Utah Symphony violist Leslie Richards, a concert of viola ensembles and the world premiere of Christopher Burns’ string quintet White Roses by the Fry Street Quartet and Utah Symphony principal viola Brant Bayless. ($10, www.utahviolasociety.org)
- Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah – “The Tertis Project.” Program: Music by composers championed by legendary violist Lionel Tertis, featuring Arthur Bliss’ Sonata; Arnold Bax’s Concert Piece; York Bowen’s Melodies on the C and G String; and Benjamin Dale’s Romance. Performers: Roger Chase, viola, and Michiko Otaki, piano. ($15, at the door, free for U. students, www.utahviolasociety.org)