SHAPES IN COLLECTIVE SPACE: COMMISSIONING AND RECORDING PROJECT EXPANDING THE VIOLA DUO

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to outline a recording project for Tallā Rouge that aims to illuminate the viola duo as a concertizing ensemble through the arranging, commissioning, and recording of new works. In line with the previous work of Tallā Rouge, this dissertation provides program notes to an album titled “Shapes in Collective Space.” This album is comprised of works by living female, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, American folk, and West-Asian composers—all of whom resonate with the philosophies of Tallā Rouge. The commissioned works incorporate elements of ancient West-Asian instruments, gospel, Americana folk sounds, pop culture, and jazz elements, and are designed to enrich and expand the available viola duo repertoire by showcasing the instrument's versatility, color pallet, and ability to embody diverse musical styles and influences. The recordings of these arrangements and commissions will later act as a companion to the release of the commissioned and arranged scores by some of the most intriguing composers of today, further encouraging the genre’s growth while expanding the lexicon of viola duo repertoire. It is my hope that the work of this dissertation will continue to encourage unique ensembles to seek out the creation of compositions by diverse and boundary-pushing living composers.