Take up your lute: A discussion on the interpretation and performance of Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata – What interpretative strategies can be employed to effectively navigate the intricate nuances and emotive depth encapsulated in Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata?
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master of Fine Arts (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis [Artistic work]
Abstract [en]
This thesis serves to provide insight into the interpretation and performance of Rebecca Clarke’s Sonata for Viola and Piano (1919). To provide context to the analysis and interpretation, the life and work of Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) is described. The viola sonata is analysed in terms of harmony, colours and technical elements for the purpose of aiding the interpretation and performance. The sonata is also cross referenced with other works by the same composer, to further pinpoint the stylistic elements and their importance for the result. From the analysis it is concluded that the common elements in Clarke’s music and in the sonata in particular, include modality, harmonic ambiguity, polytonality and a range of instrumental techniques. The meticulous notation and the overall instrumental ergonomics of the piece shows both that Clarke had a clear vision for her music, and that she knew the nature of both the viola and the piano well. In conclusion, I argue that in order to present a captivating performance of the piece, great care must be taken to the distinction and sensitivity of these elements in particular.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. , p. 32
Keywords [en]
Viola, Viola Sonata, Rebecca Clarke, 20th century music, impressionism, performance
National Category
Music
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kmh:diva-5297OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kmh-5297DiVA, id: diva2:1858763
Presentation
2024-04-27, Edsberg Manor, Landsnoravägen 10, Sollentuna, 15:00
Supervisors
Examiners
Note
R. Clarke: Viola Sonata
I. Impetuoso
II. Vivace
III. Adagio
S. Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, arr. V. Borisovsky
I. Introduction
III. Juliet as a Young Girl
IV. Dance of the Knights
Isela Halonen, Viola
Anna Christensson, Piano
2024-05-202024-05-182025-02-21Bibliographically approved