Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
12-11-2019
Year of Publication
2019
Degree Name
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Fine Arts
Department/School/Program
Music
First Advisor
Daniel Mason
Abstract
Arthur Bliss’s Sonata for Viola and Piano stands as a significant achievement in early twentieth-century chamber music for viola and is the result of a fruitful collaboration between composer and virtuoso performer. Multiple scholars recognize the sonata as one of Bliss’s finest works. Despite these accolades, the work has failed to attract sustained scholarly investigation. This document provides performers with the necessary tools for a thorough and contextualized presentation of the work. The main body of this study details the technical aspects of performing the sonata: viola technique, expressive challenges, and ensemble concerns. Preceding this, I cover the relevant biographical details from Bliss’s life, examine the roots of his chamber music writing for viola by analyzing two early works, and investigate the collaboration between Lionel Tertis and Bliss in creating this work.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2020.020
Recommended Citation
Braddock, Andrew, "A Performance Guide to Arthur Bliss's Sonata for Viola and Piano" (2019). Theses and Dissertations--Music. 152.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/music_etds/152
