As the title might suggest, this piece is full of opportunities to show off contrasting dynamics. It is more a double viola quartet than an octet in that the original brass piece had two groups of players facing each other and playing both with and against each other. The first part goes up to 5th position.
This arrangement is for 4 solo violas accompanied by an orchestra of violas, in four parts. The solo parts are grades 6-8 while the ‘orchestral’ parts are grades 4-6. Some of the solo parts go up to 5th position. Players need good listening skills and know when to play down so that the solo parts can be heard. There is lots of trill practice and any performance will benefit from clean articulation.
