Trailblazers, Innovators, and Futurists

Trailblazers, Innovators, and Futurists: 350 Years of the Solo Violin

Trailblazers, Innovators, and Futurists is a three-part performance project that examines the rich and varied repertoire of the solo violin from the seventeenth century to the present. The project consists of three recitals, with each recital program examining one specific compositional, formal, or thematic element that has appeared in the solo violin repertoire over the course of its history.

Each concert will feature four works for solo violin, three of which will serve as historical examples of a musical “trailblazer”, “innovator”, and “futurist”. The “trailblazer” will be a precursor or contemporary of J.S. Bach. An “innovator” will be loosely defined as a composer who innovated upon the work of those early Baroque composers. A “futurist” will be defined as as composer who uses technology to further the work of the previous composers, while maintaining a musical lineage to the work of the “trailblazer”. The final work on each program will be one of my own original compositions for violin and electronics inspired by the overarching theme of each concert.

The first program, CYCLES, explores the use of cyclical forms, repetitive motifs, and musical loops. The second program, A CHORUS OF ONE, examines polyphony and counterpoint in the solo violin repertoire. The final program, BODIES IN MOTION, explores the influence of dance forms and styles on the history of the violin repertoire.

These performances serve as my doctoral thesis project at the University of Maryland.

CYCLES
Christopher Whitley: Selections from “Solos” (2018, rev. 2022)
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Passacaglia from the Rosary Sonatas (1674)
Kaija Saariaho: Frises (2011)
Kevin Puts: Arches (2000)

A CHORUS OF ONE
Nicola Matteis Jr.: Alia fantasia (ca. 1720)
Christopher Whitley: vlnvlnvlnvlnvlnvlnvln... (2023)
Fjóla Evans: In Bruniquel Cave (2022)
Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1001 (1720)

BODIES IN MOTION
Johann Joseph Vilsmayr: Partia No. 1 (1715)
Christopher Whitley - “14” (2018/2022)
Kirsten Azan (Bambii) - New Collaborative Work (2023)
J.S. Bach - Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 (1720)