Playing the viola : conversations with William Primrose
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Playing the viola : conversations with William Primrose
Oxford University Press, 1988
- : [hard.]
- : pbk
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Note
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
-
: [hard.] ISBN 9780193185142
Description
This study is based on a series of conversations with William Primrose in the last years before his death in 1982. David Dalton discussed with him many aspects related to performing on and teaching the viola. The result of these interviews aims to provide advice for the student on the technicalities of playing the viola: on holding the instrument, bowing, tone, fingering and practising, and gives illustrations and music examples. As well as giving technical guidelines, the two violists discuss the position of their instrument in music history and cover topics of repertoire, notably the question of transcriptions and the need for contemporary masterpieces in the light of the limited heritage of "valid" compositions for the viola. There are insights into the performance of the concertos by Bartok and Walton, with which Primrose was closely associated. Advice is also given on the art of performing and of demeanour on stage, on competitions, on recordings and on preparing for a career. The work is intended to be of interest to both players and teachers of the viola and of other string instruments, both amateur and professional, and to musicians and music lovers in general.
Table of Contents
- Viola via violin
- teacher and student
- the lesson
- on practising
- holding the viola
- the art of bowing
- more on bowing and tone
- the matter of fingering
- left-hand techniques
- other left-hand considerations
- about performing
- on stage
- the repertoire
- performance, practice and interpretation
- programming
- recordings - how, and what to make of them
- competitions
- towards a career. Eulogy.
- Volume
-
: pbk ISBN 9780198161950
Description
`In all areas of human endeavour, time and again an individual appears who, due to a multitude of personal attributes, elevates his or her field to a hitherto unknown height. Such an individual was William Primrose. His name and the viola are synonymous.' Janos Starker
This unique book is the result of a series of conversations with Primrose in the last years before his death in 1982. David Dalton describes how he came to the great artist armed with every question he could think of pertaining to performing on and teaching the viola. The lively dialogue contains a wealth of illuminating advice for the student on the technicalities of playing the viola. It is, however, far more than a technical guide. The two violists discuss the unique position of their
instrument - `an instrument without tradition' is Primrose's bald description. They cover the topic of repertoire with fascinating insights into the performance of the great concertos by Bartok and Walton, with which Primrose was so closely associated. Still more invaluable advice emerges from the
discussion of Primrose's own experience, on the art of performance, on demeanour on stage, on competitions, on recordings, and on preparing for a career.
The book is a tribute to one of the greatest artists of this century.
by "Nielsen BookData"
