Melia Watras

PARTITA PARTY
for solo viola (2023)
a collaborative work
Duncan Steele: Allemanda
Yuval Gotlibovich: Corrente
Melia Watras: Sarabanda
Rose Wollman: Giga
Atar Arad: Ciaccona

World Premiere: violists Atar Arad, Yuval Gotlibovich, Duncan Steele, Melia Watras and Rose Wollman; October 12, 2023, Bloomington, IN

Program Notes:
Listening to eighteen talented violists performing my Ciaconna (or Chaconne) at the first Hindemith International Competition (October, 2021) gave me the idea to invite four former viola students of mine—who are also composers—to have a party together, a Partita Party, celebrating the famous D minor Partita by Bach. (Schumann, Brahms and Dietrich celebrating together with violinist Joachim with their famous F-A-E Sonata was, of course, not far from my mind.)
—Atar Arad

This collaborative composition was supported by an IU Presidential Arts and Humanities Production Grant. Pianist Kimberly Carballo wrote the application and directed the project.

Partita Party—the album