Quiet Time for Viola and Piano

Der Titel dieses fünfminütigen  Duos sagt alles über dessen musikalischen Charakter aus. Es besteht zwar ein spürbarer Drang nach vorne, aber die Komposition steuert in keiner Phase auf einen großen Höhepunkt hin. Zeitweise schwebt die Violastimme scheinbar schwerelos über der sparsamen Klavierbegleitung. Doppelgriffe - unter Verwendung leerer Saiten - sowie Glissandi erzeugen einen Hauch von "Americana". Die Komposition hinterlässt einen Nachklang von Innigkeit, Nachdenklichkeit. (Gernot Wolfgang)

„Die Komposition hinterlässt einen Nachklang von Innigkeit und Nachdenklichkeit. Sie ist aufgrund ihrer meditativen Stimmung leichter zu spielen. Ein Gefühl für Jazz-Groove sollte man mitbringen, einigermaßen schwindelfrei bei hohen Tönen sein und beherzt zupacken können. Dann macht diese Musik Spaß.“ (Manuel Rösler, ENSEMBLE 3/2013)   „Quiet Time provides an opportunity for the gentle fusion of two mellifluous instruments. The mystical tonal qualities of the viola and the meditative contemplation depicted in the piano are explored in an atmosphere of pensive reflection. Although there is no obvious climax point the piece retains a sense of perpetual motion throughout, portrayed in the subtle ebb and flow of the music. While encouraging artistic invention, the music also allows for advanced technical display on both instruments. (...) Quiet Time is a fine example of a contemporary concert piece.” (STRINGENDO MAGAZINE Oct. 2013)   "...another appealing duo, Quiet Time, this time for reflectively rhapsodic viola and restrainedly resonant piano" (musicweb-international.com)   "The collection Short Stories, works by Gernot Wolfgang, is subtitled ‘More Groove-Oriented Chamber Music’. The description is apt, but slightly misleading. There is a range of styles here, some of it jazzy and overtly “groove-oriented”, such as the piece for bassoon and contrabass, Low Agenda. But there are other paths explored here, as well. Theremin’s Journey, for theremin, piano, and electronics, starts with a witty paraphrase of our best known pop-culture use of the theremin—as a mood-setter for pulp mysteries—before adding electronic beats. Rolling Hills & Jagged Ridges is a lyrical (but not sweet) piece for violin and piano; and the same can be said of Quiet Time, for viola and piano. There is variety in this music, and the performances are exceptional." (American Record Guide 270 July/August 2011) Rolling Hills and Jagged Ridges and Quiet Time are interesting, fast-moving works, notable for their economical piano accompaniment, which works well in commenting dramatically on the flighty, virtuosic string writing. (Jeremy Marchant, FANFARE MAGAZINE July/Aug. 2011)