The Four Seasons of New England -- Violinists Need Not Apply

April 25, 2019, 2:57 PM ·

We just finished recording an album of viola quartets called The Seasons--- after the main piece on the program, the Four Seasons of New England. Bird calls in Spring (you don't have to pay any royalties to birds), an ice cream truck chased around by bugs in Summer, geese flying south in the Fall, and the snowy bleak grayness of Winter, to remind everyone of what we all just escaped.

Yet, nary a violin to be found. Judging by Vivaldi's and Astor Piazzola's versions, you'd think it couldn't be! But now it is: Entirely Fiddle-free Seasons. You're welcome.

Other pieces include The South Hadley Mass- A Short Requiem for the Dead Violist, Polysemic Rhapsody, Threnody and Reverie, and K2VHV Kaddish for my father who died this past year.

There is sheet music available both in the original form as well as for string quartet (and in one case string trio) should you feel the need for the addition of some violin sound. No judgments here. Just as you can find fruit drinks with the addition of corn syrup, pizza with pineapple pieces on top, and lots of things covered in spray cheese, tastes differ from person to person.

But it all can be played on four violas, which is what we did, just as Cremonus intended. I wrote the music over the past three years, and I hope you enjoy it!

Click here for the recording and sheet music

Scott