Viola sketches

I heard a lot of memorable concerts in 2007. One concert I still think about featured a guy with an electric viola. A few months ago, when I heard violist John Graham playing, I wrote,

“Graham moshed his way from a grinding, heavy-metal sound into a yearning, vaguely Middle Eastern mode. I was astonished by the range of sounds he made. He cranked out violent, robotic rhythms. He dug in, stripped horsehair strands off his bow, and played on even more forcefully. Later his instrument broke out in bluesy laughter. “Viola Sketches” proves composer Andrew Colella has struck a rich vein. More from him, please.”

More tonight.

John Graham WILL play the Sketches again tonight (Wednesday) in Kilbourn Hall. Also on the program, Peter Sculthorpe’s 1960 Sonata for Viola and Percussion, Morton Feldman, The Viola in My Life (II) and Ernest Bloch’s Suite for Viola and Piano with pianist Barry Snyder. For the young Andrew Colella, to have his work included is tremendous vote of confidence.

If you can go, the show starts at 8:00 p.m. It'll stick in your mind.