Frank Levy a “musician’s composer”

My friendship with Frank Levy began over 15 years ago.  He is one of the most prolific composers I have ever known and Ive had the privilege of premiering numerous works of his, many written for me. Ive recorded two CDs for Naxos featuring his viola music and this weekend I will give the world premiere of his Concerto for Solo Viola, Winds, Brass and Percussion in Omaha.  This is the second concerto for viola and wind ensemble written for me.(the other “wind -concerto” I premiered in Melbourne by Sydney-based composer Houston Dunleavy)  Ive always been interested in performing with winds and unconventional groups.  I remember a wonderful week in Bologna where I gave the premiere an entire program of works written for me for viola and celli and basses. I’ve also have many wonderful multi-movement works written for viola and choir.

What I specifically love about playing with winds is the fact that I constantly learn about phrasing from them.  Us string players can breathe and even speak while playing but a flutist or clarinetist cannot do this. In fact, much like a singer, a wind player must make the breathing process a part of the music.  They are constantly working on breathe control. Us string players could learn much from them. I often use the metaphor of the bow as gills of a fish or the lungs of a singer because the same principal applies with sound production, spinning the sound, projecting an idea and making a long-arching phrase. This is why for over 13 years I have performed with the Halcyon Trio(a viola, clarinet, piano trio which I co-founded)

Frank levy has written 2 trios for my group and I have had the pleasure of performing other amazing works by Frank such as:

Sonata for Viola Alone

Suite for Solo Viola*

Apostrophe for viola, piano and xylophone*

Duo Concertante for viola and guitar*

Mythic Transformations for viola and clarinet*

Toot de Suite for viola and bassoon(for me and my son, Graham)*

Trio for viola, clarinet and bassoon*

Three viola and piano sonatas*(1st sonata was written in the 1960’s but third sonata was in fact written for me)

Ten Songs on Love and the Mind for mezzo(or baritone), viola and piano*

Double concerto for viola and piano and strings(to be premiered next season in Los Angeles)*

Triple concerto for viola, bassoon and piano and strings (also to be premiered next season in L.A.)

and his very first viola concerto written for me for solo viola and full orchestra*

I have also been a part of the world premiere of his Bass Quintet*

To Peace, with Love for viola, clarinet and choir*

(*composed for, dedicated to  and premiered by me)

I think Frank’s genius is in his tonal language which is very evocative of central European “Bloch-like” octatonic scales combining beautiful melodic lines and folk dance rhythms.  There is a “Mystical” quality to his sound world that is both haunting and also enriching to hear and to perform. Being a cellist for many decades he really knows how to write for strings, especially viola and cello.  He is really a musician’s composer, much like a theatre or film director who is called an actor’s director.  He is one of us and that is a great advantage when attempting to bring to life an idea.

Personally he is almost one of most flexible composers to work with.  Although he has decades of experience(over 14 quartets and 4 symphonies to his credit) he always listens to my questions, comments, and even sometimes criticisms.  This humility and desire to make the end product really “work” is one of the many things I find so satisfying about working with Frank.  I always try to perform through a new work in his apartment in Northern New Jersey which I always find to be both illuminating and somewhat inspiring.  He has such a great ear and always gives very helpful and probing insight to the music and to my playing.  

I feel privileged to have and worked with him for so many wonderful years.  It is a musical relationship and special friendship I treasure and hope will continue for many more years to come!