This solo for Viola was written as a study for the Trio for 2 Violas and Piano. After finishing it I concluded that the piece could live a life of its own. Furthermore I decided that its material has the potential to serve as a starting point for my second string quartet.

The architecture is simple. There is a continuous calm legato movement, soft and chromatic, without rests. Sometimes it changes from monophonic to polyphonic and back, but the overall impression stays the same. Gradually the tempo increases slightly, and the melody seems to climb a little, without ever changing dramatically. In the second half the piece reverses these changes, the tempo decreases again, and the melody slowly returns home.

Viola. Duration: 6′

This piece has been planned several times, for several different combinations of instruments. The first version to be completed (in April 2005) was the solo version, for flute or alto flute. After finishing that version I assumed that the project would end there.

But in September 2005 I decided that I wanted to write a version for Flute, Viola and Harp. I feel that the material from the flute solo has many possibilities pointing towards this trio form, of which Claude Debussy is the spiritual father.

The title is a literal transcription of the third line of a poem by Dylan Thomas: In My Craft or Sullen Art. Thomas describes in a touching way, the thoughts of a poet (or composer?), wondering in the middle of the night for whom he is actually writing his art.

Solo version: Flute or Alto flute. Duration: 4′

Trio version: Flute, Viola, Harp. Duration: 9′

In this trio for 2 violas and piano there are two contrasting layers that remain unaffected by each other.

The two violas play a soft polyphonic chromatic texture that is always present but never exceeds the dynamic level of mp. They seem to imitate each other, but never in an exact way. They seem to be performing a blurry slow motion dance, always remaining faithful to their timid character.

The piano plays a completely different part. On the one hand there are very energetic fragments, with many sudden dynamic changes and a unpredictable rhythmic structure. On the other hand there are soft chord progressions that blend in with the ever present string sound. The piano also regularly turns to silence, as if it has to recharge for the next eruption of energy.

Viola (2), Piano. Duration: 10-11′