Partners in Rhyme viola-cello duet

Description

Partners in Rhyme (viola-cello duet)

• Dialogue
• Valse nostalgique
• Air
• Excursion

Viola-cello duet
1999
Duration: 10′
Score and parts included. Parts include a cue staff with the second part.
Commissioned by Shirley Kysilko.

Program note

Partners in Rhyme was commissioned by Shirley Kysilko in honor of Tom Kysilko’s 51^st birthday. Shirley is a cellist and Tom, her husband, a violist. The four movements describe a journey, and what is a partnership if not a journey? The opening “Dialogue” contains some heated discussion. “Valse nostalgique” allows time for question and reflection. The walking bass of “Air” lends a Bachian flavor. “Jaunt” returns to the high spirits of the opening. There are a variety of techniques in this string duo: pizzicato, harmonics, chords, and lots of opportunity for lyrical expression. The work also exists in a cello duet version, here.