The Contribution Of Viola Performance Technique Development Through Bartok's Viola Concerto And Ligeti's Solo Viola Sonata

Historically the viola has been a accompanying instrument at the court orchestra, and was given harmonic and rhythmical purposes in the early chamber music repertoire. With the evolution of music writing, the viola is given more importance and more presence in the classical music repertoire.With this thesis, using Bela Bartok's Viola Concerto and Gyogy Ligeti's Solo Sonata as main works, to discuss the technical, musical and performance evolution in viola playing.. 20th century can be said the gold period of viola; prominent viola solists have commissioned works by famous composers and composers have dedicated works to viola solists. Through Bartok's writing, with folklore's elements, high registered passages, unconventional double stops, extreme notation leaps, and Ligeti's macro tone intonation, consecutive triple and quadruple stops, double harmonics, extreme dynamic contrasts, extraordinary high position playing and etc, both these works have pushed to the limits of viola's potential, have extended and created new viola playing technique.This thesis comprise of 3 chapters; the first, prior to Bartok's viola concerto, an overview of viola's performance technique between 16th to 18th century, and 19th and 20th century. The second and third chapter focus on the evolutionary viola performance technique through both Bartok's and Ligeti's viola pieces, and a thorough analysis of how these newly created techniques firmly set viola as a highly appreciated solo instrument.