Heller, Barbara: Autumnal Music

Duet for Viola and Piano

Autumn Music for viola and piano is dedicated to the pianist Maria Grazyna Kulka. The string part of the original version for cello and piano (Schott CB 265) has been reworked for the Kulka Duo. Autumn Music is of intermediate difficulty and suitable for advanced young string players wishing to extend their contemporary repertoire, as well as for performance in youth music competitions. After the Bb in bar 88 the fermata may be followed by a viola solo cadenza improvised or composed by the performer and ad libitum a little piano solo cadenza too, both leading into bar 89. These cadenzas may well develop musical material from the preceding bars, drawing on motifs and techniques already used in the piece; beyond that, no limits should be set to the performer’s inventive inspiration. The rhythm, tempo and length of the cadenza may be improvised afresh each time it is played.