Stabat Serban for solo viola
Digital Sheet Music

Viola - Advanced - Digital Download

SKU: S0.20581

Composed by Douglas DaSilva. 21st Century,Contemporary Classical,Modern,Repertoire,Recital. Solo Part. 9 pages. Published by Burke & Bagley (S0.20581).

Composer Douglas DaSilva says:I was asked to compose this piece by cellist/composer Serban Nichifor for his wife Liana Alexander, who died in 2011. Serban's grief and his way of expressing it, through proclamations of sempiternal love for his late wife, in many ways reminds me of my father, who lost my mother in 2003. From a compositional standpoint I set out to explore and express the powerful and conflicting emotions associated with grief/loss of a loved one. These emotions are often described as 'stages' and I am sure that in many cases this is accurate. However, it is probably universal to have these emotions mixed together creating something greater (or worse) than the individual emotions; something that we can call grief. I composed these in their present order as I explored these emotions within myself. This was a challenging, and at times, not-so-pleasant experience for me (must we suffer for our art?). In the end, though, I am satisfied with the results and am honored that Serban gave me the chance to do this. Part I: Denial - This isn't as unreasonable as it may appear. Human resilience will encourage one to continue life as usual. As if there has been no loss. This is why I have quoted a small phrase from Liana Alexandra's 'Melody' and base this first movement upon it. We hear Liana speaking to us directly as if nothing has changed. Part II: Anger - The rapid pace of this angry piece is repeatedly interrupted by moments of reflection, the other emotions related to grief are constantly interfering with the need to send the hurt outward, expressed in the simplest, most primal of the emotions! Part III: Depression - When a soul-mate is lost, one feels ripped apart, only half of you is left, never whole again. This part is performed almost entirely without the use of the left hand, symbolizing the loss. Part IV: Acceptance - Of all of these 'stages,' this is probably the most isolate and seemingly impossible to achieve. This is the inevitable that is never seen.