When the Fiddle Wears a Tux: A Performance Practice Guide to the Michael Torke Violin Concerto, Sky (2019)
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Date
2024
Authors
Wilfong Joblin, Sarah E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The Michael Torke Violin Concerto, Sky, was composed for violinist and fiddler Tessa
Lark in 2019. Torke based each of the movements of Sky around different principles of
bluegrass and Irish fiddling, which Lark interpreted through the lens of her fiddle experience. In
this document I present a historical and societal framing for how and why a violin concerto
steeped in fiddle styles could be successful today. I provide a melodic and structural analysis of
the three movements to better understand which elements of fiddle traditions are being
represented, and through the combination of interviews with notable fiddle scholars and
performers, as well as my own experience as a fiddle player, I give practical recommendations
to the classically trained violinist for how to incorporate fiddle idioms into this work.
Description
212 pages
Keywords
the third path, historical performance practice, violin, fiddle, Michael Torke