The almond tree duos — Melia Watras

MELIA WATRAS: THE ALMOND TREE DUOS
for violin and viola (2020)

World Premiere: Tekla Cunningham, Rachel Lee Priday and Michael Jinsoo Lim, violins; Melia Watras, viola; February 15, 2022, Seattle, WA

Duration: 50:46

Program Notes:
The almond tree duos is a work comprised of 18 pieces for violin and viola, 15 of which have versions for two violas. The title references the symbol of hope and new beginnings in Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost.

Each piece is connected to a photograph by Michelle Smith-Lewis. Sometimes I composed based on her art, and other times, she took photos inspired by my music. I then asked Michael Jinsoo Lim to write a short poem for each duo.

The almond tree duos houses two cycles: one a trio of songs with the pitch center of Eb (Nothing to prove, Vex, Perlucere), the other a quartet that examines the same material from different perspectives (The almond tree, The almond tree 2-4).

The work may be performed in different ways: as a complete set, as stand alone pieces, or programmed in different combinations with other pieces from the collection. When performed as a whole, the order should be as listed below.

Performances on Baroque instruments, and experimenting with combinations of modern violin or viola paired with Baroque violin or viola are encouraged.

My deepest thanks to the stellar artists Tekla Cunningham, Rachel Lee Priday, Michael Jinsoo Lim and Michelle Smith-Lewis.

—Melia Watras