Brahms, violas & J.M. Hernandez

 Is the viola more than a 'small cello' or a 'big violin'? What has Brahms' clarinet sonata op. 120 no. 2 to do with this string instrument?  

The viola always fascinated me. I love it's warm timbre. It doesnt squeak like a violin, doesn't hum like a cello. No, the viola sounds almost like a human voice, very natural and familiar.
Besides, the viola is crucial for orchestras and ensembles. It's needed to fill in harmonies, it's good for playing melodies or bass lines, but the viola is also an amazing solo instrument!

Small cello

Is it enough to describe the viola as a 'big violin' or a 'small cello'? Absolutely not! Although the viola has a lot in common with both instruments, it has an unique sound.

The viola dates from the same time as the violin.
Both instruments came to existence in the early to middle 16th century. It's tuning is C-G-D-A, a fifth below the violin and an octave above the cello. The viola is bigger than the violin but there is a problem. The size of the sound box is still too small for it's tuning, therefore the resonance is not optimal. But this is the key to the typical viola sound. The 'imperfect' proportions of the sound box compared to it's tuning give the viola it's unique pleasant, warm timbre.

After reading this hymn, I think it's very clear for you to understand why I started to play the viola. The first phase was squeaking and scratching, but after some practise I (almost) left this stage behind... I love how playing a string instrument feels, the way you feel the vibration of the sound in your body. It feels much more 'intense' than playing the piano. When playing the piano, there is always a considerable distance between your head and the keys. When playing the viola however, your chin is resting on the instrument. The first weeks are very heavy and tiresome for your muscles, but after getting used to the uncomfortable position, holding the viola starts to feel like a cuddle.

Jokes

Q: How was the canon invented?

A: Two violists tried to play the same passage together

 There's nothing more entertaining to me than sitting behind my computer and reading music jokes because I can relate to them in one way or another. False notes, bad viola players, poor jazz musicians, insufferable directors... Jokes are funny because we know deep inside there is something true in it, right? Some violists actually are second-rate violinists. But let's focus on the good violists: the viola is more than excellent firewood!

Since I mentioned before that the viola is an amazing solo instrument, I'm hearing a lot of imaginary "Prove it!" comments in my head. I'm fervently going to defend the reputation of the viola, ruined by those stupid, but very funny jokes by giving you the prove that the viola is indeed a very fine solo instrument. 

The answer is Johannes Brahms' sonata op. 120. no 2, which seems to fit the viola perfectly although it is actually originally written for clarinet. The composer himself transcribed the piece for the viola.

Brahms

Johannes Brahms was born on May 7th, 1833 in Hamburg, Germany. He got his very first music lessons from his father who was a double bassist. He then continued his studies with Otto Friedrich Cossel, then Eduard Marxsen, a famous piano teacher in his hometown. Brahms became a brilliant pianist at young age and gave his first public performance in 1848. Schumann esteemed him highly, and wrote an article about him in his Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. Brahms remained friends with Robert Schumann and his wife Clara. He worked as a conductor in Detmold, Hamburg and Vienna.
Trademark: elegance, seriousness, melancholy, heavyness, somewhat classical structures, folk themes.

J.M. Hernandez & M. Hirata
Brahms visited the mountains a couple of times. He lived in Vienna, and he spent some vacations near the Thuner See in Switzerland. I have been there too some time ago and to me it is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world! This sonata makes me think of the mountains. It made me think of mountains even before I knew Brahms went there.
Knowing a little bit of background information now, I invite you to listen to the Brahms - Viola sonata op 120. no 2, wonderfully performed by International Johannes Brahms competition winner Juan Miguel Hernandez and Makiko Hirata.

J.M. Hernandez plays with a beautiful warm, thick sound and a very nice round vibrato. Rubato is perfectly applied. The performance is sensitive, passionate, and solid at the same time.
Hernandez and Hirata slightly change their colour palettes when transitioning to another theme. The interaction and balance between both instruments is beautiful and well-thought-of.
The melodical line goes on and flows naturally, the sonata sounds pleasant and not too heavy nor too loaded. Brahms did well when he transcribed this piece. His sonata explains the beauty of the instrument, the warmth, robustness and familiarity I wrote about in the introduction. The vigorous, vivid Viola.

Brahms picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Brahms