Rhapsody on the Chaconne Theme (2014)

for solo viola

 

Program Notes

 

The last movement of Bach’s Partita No.2 in D minor “Chaconne“ is often regarded as the definition of a masterpiece. As a “theme and variation” on the beginning chord progression, the 15-minute long Chaconne unfolds multifarious relationships through abundant thematic transformations.

Rhapsody on the Chaconne Theme was written to pay homage to the Chaconne. As it would be too redundant to write another “variation,” the Rhapsody takes the Chaconne’s initial bass line “ G-G-F#-G-Eb-C-D” as its melodic motive, and develops their intervallic relationship into a 3-section piece. It also imitates the tonal design of the viola transcription of the Chaconne: g minor – G Major – g minor.

Rhapsody on the Chaconne Theme was written for and premiered by violist Hsin-Yun Huang.

 

為無伴奏中提琴所寫的夏康狂想 (Rhapsody on the Chaconne Theme)由旅美中提琴家黃心芸委託創作, 2014年於美國馬里蘭州Montgomery大學獨奏會中首演。

這首作品以巴赫無伴奏小提琴第二號組曲的終樂章 - 夏康舞曲,作為創作的靈感來源,巴赫的夏康舞曲是運用作品一開始的和聲進行作為變奏曲的和聲基調,在15分鐘的作品內激盪了音型, 和聲, 曲調的各種變奏的可能性。夏康狂想則是運用舞曲裡面的數字低音 G-G-F#-G-Eb-C-D作為主旋律來做變奏, 進而運用這幾個音的音程關係發展。三段式的作品也延續巴赫的夏康舞曲中提琴版本的調性結構:G小調到 G大調再轉回G小調。

 

Hsin-Yun Huang, viola

World Premiere

Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center,

Montgomery College Rockville, MD

May 24, 2014