SOUNDS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: MUSIC FOR VIOLA BY WOMEN COMPOSERS

This essay accompanies a full-length CD recording of music for viola by women composers. The goal of this capstone project is to produce new recordings of the music of historically underrepresented composers, as well as to promote lesser known pieces from the viola repertoire. The composers featured are of diverse origins, ranging from the United States, England, and France, through Bulgaria. All the works have been composed and premiered during the twentieth century. The recording consists of five pieces for viola solo or viola and piano, written by Marcelle Soulage, Rebecca Clarke, Lillian Fuchs, Augusta Read Thomas and Dobrinka Tabakova. The essay includes biographical information for each of the composers, followed by a brief analysis of each piece. Chapter One is an introduction outlining the purpose and delimitations of the study. Chapters Two through Six focus on each work featured on the CD and are presented in chronological order of composition