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

Citation