ALTERNATIVE STYLES ELECTRIC VIOLA RESOURCE GUIDE: DISCOGRAPHY AND LIST OF COMPOSITIONS by Martha Mooke
This issue’s article continues the exploration of Many of the works on the list of compositions the electric viola with a discography of works were composed for me and which I also and a list of compositions for the instrument premiered. I have performed several of them (this includes actual electric instruments—of 4 many times in subsequent concerts (such as or more strings—or acoustic violas plugged in or Alvin Singleton's "Mookestueck" which I also miked so the sound is affected, not just recorded for Tzadik, Dave Soldier's "East St. amplified). There was some difficulty in Louis 1968 is a fave, and Tania León's "Hebras selecting works to include, because technically a d'luz"). I've come across many videos on 5‐string violin and 5‐string viola can play the YouTube and a plethora of electric violists on same repertoire, and I also have a collection of MySpace (many of whom are jazz/rock or heavy CDs from 5‐string violinists. I have only included metal), so these are wonderful resources for works that, as far as I can tell, were created for violists to investigate when searching for 5‐string viola. electric music. Please feel free to visit my YouTube channel at: There are a few exceptions to the rule. For http://www.youtube.com/user/POWERVLA. example, I included Jean Luc‐Ponty because he For those of you on Facebook, you are welcome was the first 5‐string violinist that inspired me to join a group I created called “Violas on the (in fact, I went out and bought the same Barcus Verge” which is an extension of a clinic that I Berry 5‐string violin—before I could find any have presented at the American String Teachers electric violas). I also included Debbie Spring. Association National Conference and other Though she plays acoustic viola, it's within an events to explore and discuss the progressive electric band (jazz‐fusion), and she was one of journey of the viola! the first violists I listened to playing something other than classical music). John Cale is the Obviously this is an ever‐growing list, by no original electric violist (I had the privilege of means definitive, so there may be recordings touring and recording with him in the early and compositions that should be included. 90's). There are more violists that could be Please send email with pertinent information to included if the article was about violists [email protected]. breaking the mold (like Christian Asplund or Ljova) and Tanya Kalmanovich is a wonderful jazz violist, but mainly in an acoustic environment.
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 44 Discography
Entries include Artist, CD Title, Year, D'Alberto, Luca Ensemble Name, CD Details, Store details, Apri gli occhi and Artist’s Website. CD Details are drawn 2009 from liner notes, artists’ websites, and store Ensemble: Ex. Wave advertisements and are not necessarily the opinion of the compiler of this list. Details: Luca D'Alberto plays a 6 string Violectra Available at: iTunes Bultmann, Nils Forgiveness Artist’s Website: 2003 http://www.myspace.com/lucadalberto
Ensemble: Nils Bultmann
Details: A unique blend of various styles and Darling, Leanne sensibilities driven by intense, creative, and Spiral extremely energetic viola playing. Solo and 2006 multi‐track recording featuring guests Andy Ewen on guitar and Noah Onstrud on Ensemble: Leanne Darling Didgeridoo Details: Viola and electronics in a mix of Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes modern classical, jazz, blues with a touch of the Middle East and gypsy influences Artist’s Website: www.nilsbultmann.com Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes
Artist’s Website: www.leannedarling.com Cale, John The Velvet Underground and Nico 1967 Dreyfuss, Michael Ensemble: The Velvet Underground Nice & Queasy 2006 Details: On electric viola, Cale's sound evoked the terror of Lou Reed's compositions, with the Ensemble: Michael Doc Dreyfuss bowed strings screeching like a runaway Details: Amazing instrumental rock by a subway car founding member of McKendree Spring and a Available at: Amazon.com master of the electric viola
Artist’s Website: Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes www.rockhall.com/inductee/the‐velvet‐ Artist’s Website: underground www.myspace.com/michaeldocdreyfuss
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 45 Frendin, Henrik Mooke, Martha Viola con Forza Enharmonic Vision 2003 1997
Ensemble: Henrik Frendin Ensemble: Martha Mooke
Details: A portrait album with music written by Details: Playing a space‐age five‐string viola, Swedish composers exclusively for the artist using digital effects to sound like everything from a swarm of insects to a Hendrix power Available at: www.phonosuecia.com guitar ... startlingly original Artist’s Website: www.frendin.com Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes
Artist’s Website: www.marthamooke.com Golani, Rivka Viola Nouveau 1983 Mooke, Martha Bowing: Café Mars Ensemble: Rivka Golani 2003
Details: An album of contemporary works for Ensemble: Bowing viola, including Jaeger’s Favour for electric viola Details: Electric viola & electric guitar; Jimi Available at: Amazon.com Hendrix meets Maurice Ravel meets Terry Riley
Artist’s Website: Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes www.mgam.com/artists/golani/biography.html Artist’s Website: www.marthamooke.com
Haken, Rudolf Rudolf Haken: Concerto for Five‐String Viola Mooke, Martha 2007 Klezmer Concertos and Encores 2003 Ensemble: Rudolf Haken Ensemble: Rocketekya Details: “Ordinary boundaries do not fence Rudolf Haken in…. He flaunts his fiddling Details: Features "Rocketya" by Osvaldo capabilities in a Concerto for Five‐String Viola— Golijov. Written for and performed by David four wacky but well‐crafted movements…” Krakauer (clarinet), Alicia Svigals (violin), Selected as American Record Guide Critics' Martha Mooke (electric viola), and Pablo Aslan Choice 2007 (double bass)
Available at: Amazon.com Available at: Amazon.com
Artist’s Website: www.rudolfhaken.com Artist’s Website: www.osvaldogolijov.com/wd32.htm
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 46 Mooke, Martha Novog, Novi Somehow We Can Freeway Philharmonic 2002 1977
Ensemble: Martha Mooke Ensemble: Freeway Philharmonic
Details: Chamber works by Alvin Singleton. Details: Creative and quirky instrumentals with Features "Mookestueck" composed for and Chapman Stick, viola (Novi), and acoustic guitar performed by Martha Mooke Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes Available at: Amazon.com Artist’s Website: Artist’s Website: www.alvinsingleton.com cdbaby.com/cd/freewayphilharmonic2
Novog, Novi Ponty, Jean‐Luc Songs from the Home Planet A Taste For Passion 2008 1979
Ensemble: String Planet Ensemble: Jean‐Luc Ponty
Details: Re‐imagines pop music from “Lady Details: Recorded in 1979 in Los Angeles. First Madonna” to “Sukiyaki” and de‐constructs the recording where Ponty is using a five‐string blue classics: Prokofiev, Saint‐Saens, and Edvard Barcus‐Berry violin Grieg Available at: Amazon.com Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes Artist’s Website: www.ponty.com Artist’s Website: www.stringplanet.com
Seidenberg, Danny Alto Logic Novog, Novi 2008 String Planet 2004 Ensemble: The Unbande (with Novi Novog)
Ensemble: String Planet Details: A pop/jazz/classical crossover instrumental concoction for two violas and a Details: Bela Fleck meets Prokofiev meets Chapman Stick, created by Danny Seidenberg, Esquivel—light‐hearted instrumental fusion long‐time violist of the Turtle Island String with a touch of classical around the edges Quartet, and Novi Novog and Larry Tuttle of Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes String Planet and Freeway Philharmonic.
Artist’s Website: www.stringplanet.com Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes
Artist’s Website: www.dannyseidenberg.com
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 47 Spring, Debbie Time Magazine calls this record "Funk metal Ocean Drive violin at its best!" 1990 Available at: iTunes Ensemble: Debbie Spring Artist’s Website: www.markwoodmusic.com Details: Contemporary jazz recording featuring Spring's vocals and expressive viola playing Wood, Mark Available at: Amazon.com Favorite Things Artist’s Website: 2001
Ensemble: Mark Wood
Wallace, David Details: A compilation of the best of Mark Nahum / What a Friend Wood’s hard‐rock violin catalogue, with 2004 highlights including material such as a new hip version of "Eleanor Rigby" with vocals by Laura Ensemble: David Wallace Kaye and a smoking rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s "Purple Haze” Details: Electric Viper‐Viola instrumentals performed by a Juilliard virtuoso. Ranging from Available at: iTunes celestial to raging, Wallace's hair‐raising compositions deliver an emotional and spiritual Artist’s Website: www.markwoodmusic.com punch
Available at: CDBaby.com/iTunes Wood, Mark Artist’s Website: Portrait of an artist
Ensemble: Mark Wood
Wood, Mark Details: Inspired by the paintings of his father Voodoo Violince Paul Wood, these modern classical 1991 compositions by Mark Wood for double‐string quartet, percussion, and voice (vocalist Laura Ensemble: Mark Wood Kaye) are lushly melodic and hauntingly beautiful Details: Mark’s first release on Guitar Recordings. Featuring Dave Lewitt on drums, Available at: www.markwoodmusic.com Gerald Veasley on bass, Laura Kaye and members of New Voices of Freedom on vocals. Artist’s Website: www.markwoodmusic.com
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 48 Compositions for Electric Viola
Entries include Composer, Composition title, Cornicello, Anthony Medium, Duration, Publisher, Discography, and Loops, Drones and Riffs Contact information. Medium: Electric viola and computer Duration: 10:00 Publisher: Anthony Cornicello Discography: Contact Information: [email protected]
Bond, Victoria Insects Festa, Fabrizio Urban Dances Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 5:00 Medium: 5‐string electric viola and CD Publisher: Protone Music Duration: 15:00 Discography: Publisher: Fabrizio Festa Contact Information: www.victoriabond.com Discography: Composer’s Website: [email protected]
Bultmann, Nils Driven Frendin, Henrik/Emilson, Fredrik Soft Christ Medium: Viola and looping device Duration: Medium: 5‐string electric viola and tape Publisher: Nils Bultmann Duration: 5:26 Discography: Publisher: Protone Music Contact Information: Discography: Viola con Forza www.nilsbultmann.com/info/ Contact Information: www.frendin.com
Burwasser, Daniel Frisk, Henrik Voila! drive
Medium: 5‐string electric viola Medium: 5‐string electric viola and computer Duration: 9:00 Duration: 6:00 Publisher: Daniel Burwasser Publisher: dinergy music Discography: Discography: Viola con Forza Contact Information: [email protected] Contact Information: www.henrikfrisk.com
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 49 Haken, Rudolf Leon, Tania Concerto for 5‐string Viola and Orchestra Hebras d'luz
Medium: 5‐string electric viola and orchestra Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 18:00 Duration: 8:00 Publisher: Rudolf Haken Publisher: Iroko Music Discography: Rudolf Haken: Concerto for Five‐ Discography: String Viola Contact Information: Contact Information: www.rudolfhaken.com [email protected]
Jaeger, David Mooke, Martha Favour News
Medium: Electric viola and electronics Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 5:42 Duration: 3:00 Publisher: David Jaeger Publisher: Vener Music Publishing Discography: Viola Nouveau Discography: Enharmonic Vision Contact Information: [email protected] Contact Information: [email protected]
Jenkins, Leroy Mooke, Martha A Social as the phoenix
Medium: 5‐string electric viola AND electronics Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 9:00 Duration: 8:00 Publisher: Publisher: Vener Music Publishing Discography: Discography: Contact Information: Contact Information: [email protected]
Karpman, Laura Mooke, Martha Common Tones Winds of Arden
Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 8:00 Duration: 5:00 Publisher: Laura Karpman Publisher: Vener Music Publishing Discography: Discography: Enharmonic Vision Contact Information: www.laurakarpman.com Contact Information: [email protected]
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 50 Mooke, Martha Shapiro, Alex Fanfare Evolve
Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Medium: 5‐string electric viola and CD Duration: 1:00 Duration: 7:35 Publisher: Vener Music Publishing Publisher: Activist Music Discography: Enharmonic Vision Discography: Contact Information: [email protected] Contact Information: www.alexshapiro.org/Evolvepg1.html
Singleton, Alvin Mooke, Martha Mookestueck Terminal Baggage Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 9:00 Duration: 5:00 Publisher: Schott Helicon Music Publisher: Vener Music Publishing Discography: Somehow We Can Discography: Enharmonic Vision Contact Information: [email protected] Contact Information: [email protected]
Söderberg, Fredrik Mooke, Martha Wrong Music Virtual Corridors Medium: 5‐string electric viola, chamber Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics orchestra, and tape Duration: 8:00 Duration: 13:00 Publisher: Vener Music Publishing Publisher: Protone Music Discography: Discography: Viola con Forza Contact Information: [email protected] Contact Information: http://www.myspace.com/wrongmusicspace
Paranosic, Milica Seek or Sneak Soldier, Dave Medium: Electric viola and computer East St. Louis 1968 Duration: 9:00 Medium: Electric or acoustic viola and CD Publisher: Milica Paranosic Duration: 8:00 Discography: Publisher: Dave Soldier Contact Information: Discography: [email protected] Contact Information: www.davesoldier.com/scores.html
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 51 Soley, David Laberinto IV
Medium: 5‐string electric viola and electronics Duration: 12:00 Publisher: David Soley Discography: Contact Information:
Wallace, David Nahum
Medium: 6‐string electric viola Duration: Publisher: David Wallace Discography: Nahum / What a Friend Contact Information: [email protected]
Martha Mooke, composer/electro‐acoustic violist, a pioneer in the field of electric five string viola, transcends musical boundaries by synthesizing her classical music training with extended techniques, digital effects processing and improvisation. She is a Yamaha Artist and leading clinician on electric and alternative approaches to string playing.
VOLUME 25 SUMMER 2009 ONLINE ISSUE 52