the dark road theme for VIOLA solo and string or orchestra chestra
Cecil Forsyth Cecil Forsyth (1870–1941)
AVS A VS Publicat Publications ions 024
Preface The Anglo-American violist and composer Cecil Forsyth never matched the early success of his Viola Concerto, which premiered at a 1903 Promenade concert to much acclaim. Enjoying wide popularity for the next quarter century, the concerto fell out of favor as other twentieth-century viola concertos by more prominent composers appeared. Fortunately the concerto has enjoyed a resurgence in the twenty-first century, admired for its melodic bravura, dra matic intensity, and lush lyricism. Forsyth turned to the medium of viola and orchestra on two other occasions: in 1905 with Chanson Celtique, a work that also enjoyed modest popularity, and in 1922 with The Dark Road , for viola and string orchestra. The Dark Road premiered premiered on November 27, 1922, with Mrs. Schradieck Aue as soloist at the inaugural concert for the Montclair Art Association Orchestra, the predecessor of the New Jersey Symphony S ymphony Orchestra. According to the program notes from that concert, the work is “practically formed out of one very simple six-note theme. This Th is is treated for many measures with considerable sombreness and severit y of effect; but later gives way to a sweeter version of itself (in the major) which is built up to a climax. climax . This leads, by means of a little ‘bridge-passage,’ to a return of the original subject.” The work’s somber mood and repetitive treatment of the thematic material did not captivate the attention of violists, though an arrangement for solo organ fared better. The composition, however, exhibits Forsyth’s skill at melody and orchestration, and it is an important contribution to the early repertoire of American music written for viola and string orchestra. This new edition is based on the score and set of parts published by H. W. Gray in 1922. David M. Bynog, editor
The Dark Road Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60)
1
Solo Viola
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) Con sord.
Violin I
Con sord.
Violin II
Con sord.
Viola
Con sord.
Cello poco
Con sord.
Bass poco
poco
2 10
subito
subito
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
2
Forsyth - The Dark Road
18
subito
poco cresc.
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poco cresc.
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Forsyth - The Dark Road 5
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5 Forsyth - The Dark Road 6 48
rit.
a tempo
molto dolce, espress.
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espress.
espress.
pizz.
arco
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Forsyth - The Dark Road 7 Poco stringendo
60
Poco più mosso
Poco più mosso
Poco stringendo
Senza sord.
cresc.
Senza sord.
cresc.
Senza sord.
Div.
cresc.
cresc.
poco a poco senza sord.
Senza sord.
cresc.
poco allarg. 67
broad
Unis.
pizz.
arco
7 Forsyth - The Dark Road 8
rit.
74
rit. cresc.
dim.
Con sord.
cresc.
Con sord.
cresc.
Con sord.
cresc.
Con sord.
cresc.
Con sord.
cresc.
82
Tempo I
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Forsyth - The Dark Road 9
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poco cresc.
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poco cresc.
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9 Forsyth - The Dark Road 10
dim.
dim. sempre
dim. sempre
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Senza sord.
(Con sord.)
(Con sord.)
Div.
Solo Viola
The Dark Road Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) 1
2
3
21
subito
26
cresc.
4
31
36
cresc.
5
40
rit.
45
6
molto dolce, espress. a tempo
54
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
Forsyth - The Dark Road - Solo Viola
2
Poco stringendo
59
7
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Poco più mosso
broad
poco allarg.
rit. cresc.
8
rit.
dim.
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9 88
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subito
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dim. 108
Tempo I
The Dark Road
Violin I
Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) 1
Con sord.
3
2
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27
subito
poco cresc. 34
poco cresc.
5
47
6 a tempo
rit.
54
espress.
Poco stringendo
60
cresc.
7
Poco più mosso
Senza sord. poco allarg.
72
8
rit.
cresc. 82
Tempo I
3
88
3
3
3
9
10
Senza sord.
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
Con sord.
The Dark Road
Violin II
Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) 1
Con sord.
3
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27
poco cresc.
subito
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poco cresc.
5
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rit.
a tempo
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cresc. 61
Poco stringendo
7
Poco più mosso
Senza sord. 67
73
8
poco allarg.
rit. cresc. 82
Tempo I
3
88
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10
Div.
(Con sord.)
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
Con sord.
The Dark Road
Viola
Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) 1
Con sord.
3
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4
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poco cresc.
subito
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poco cresc.
5 3
3
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rit.
3
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a tempo
54
Poco stringendo
60
cresc.
7 Poco più mosso
Unis.
Div. Senza sord. poco allarg.
8
73
Con sord.
rit. cresc. 82
Tempo I 3
3
88
3
3
3
3
3
3
9
10
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
3
(Con sord.)
3
The Dark Road
Cello
Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) Con sord.
poco
1
2
15
poco cresc.
subito
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22
subito
28
poco cresc.
3
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4
poco cresc.
subito
5 39
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3
44
rit.
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
6 a tempo
2
Forsyth - The Dark Road - Cello
50
espress. 56
cresc.
61
Poco stringendo
7
Poco più mosso
poco a poco senza sord. 67
73
8
poco allarg.
Con sord.
rit. cresc.
82
Tempo I
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87
10 93
poco cresc.
99
106
subito
dim. sempre
The Dark Road
Bass
Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
Cecil Forsyth Edited by David M. Bynog
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60) Con sord.
poco
1 7
poco
2
13
subito
19
poco cresc.
subito
3
poco cresc.
4 31
poco cresc.
subito
38
5
6 44
rit.
©American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
a tempo
2
Forsyth - The Dark Road - Bass
51
61
Senza sord.
arco
pizz.
Poco stringendo
7
Poco più mosso
cresc.
pizz.
67
arco
72
rit.
poco allarg.
8
cresc.
82
Tempo I
9
88
10 94
poco cresc.
100
106
subito
dim. sempre
Con sord.
AVS Publications VIOLA SOLO Ivan Langstroth Viola Suite. AVS 022 Quincy Porter Suite for Viola Alone. AVS 008 Frederick Slee Variations on a Hymn Tune for Solo Viola. AVS 003 VIOLA AND PIANO
VIOLA ENSEMBLE (FOUR OR MORE) J. S. Bach Sinfonia from the Cantata: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt. AVS 005 Matthias Durst Adagio for Four Violas. AVS 001 Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Adagio from String Sinfonia VIII. AVS 011a
Blanche Blood Barcarolle for Viola and Piano. AVS 002
Hendrik Waelput Cantabile for Four Violas. AVS 018
Arthur Foote Melody for Viola and Piano, op. 44a. AVS 015
Max von Weinzierl Nachtstück für 4 Violen, op. 34. AVS 009
Carl Fuerstner Two Pieces for Viola and Piano. AVS 021 Quincy Porter Speed Etude for Viola and Piano. AVS 007
VIOLA AND ORCHESTRA Cecil Forsyth The Dark Road for Viola and String Orchestra. AVS 024
Gustav Strube Regrets for Viola and Piano. AVS 010
W. A. Mozart Principal Viola Part for Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364, Extended Scordatura Edition. AVS 019
Theodore Thomas Divertissement for Viola and Piano. AVS 006
Principal Viola Part for Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364, Scordatura Edition. AVS 019a
VIOLIN AND VIOLA Louise Lincoln Kerr Etude. AVS 020 J. N. Pychowski Perpetual Canon. AVS 017 TWO VIOLAS Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Canon for Two Violas. AVS 004
MIXED ENSEMBLES J. S. Bach Chorale: Ich, dein betrubtes Kind, for Soprano, Viola obligata, and Continuo from the Cantata Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut . AVS 013 Ergieße dich reichlich,du göttliche Quelle, Aria for Tenor, Viola, and Continuo from the Cantata Wo soll ich fliehen hin. AVS 014 Sinfonia from the Cantata: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt. AVS 005
THREE VIOLAS Scott Slapin Capricious. AVS 012
Michael Colgrass Revisions to Variations for Four Drums and Viola. AVS 016 Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Adagio from String Sinfonia VIII. AVS 011
http://americanviolasociety.org/resources/scores/
