Essentially, there are three major concertos for viola. They form the core of the solo concerto repertoire. They are the Bartok, Walton and Hindemith. Although they are truly great works, I find that for some first-time concertgoers the pieces can be a little hard to digest. So, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and write one of my own. I wanted to write something that would be accessible to a greater audience.

The concerto is in three movements but each movement can be played independently of the other; it can also be seen as three concert pieces. Each movement depicts a person from Cervantes’ Don Quixote. The first movement is Alonso before he embarks on the journey that renames him Don Quixote. It is who he was just moments before his sense of reality and fantasy became a blur. The second movement is Aldonza as she really was and not as Don Quixote’s Dulcinea. The third movement is Sancho as he was, is, and always will be.

I recorded the complete concerto with Julie Spangler playing the orchestra piano reduction. Julie was also kind enough to create the piano reduction.

Viola Concerto - Movement 2 (Aldonza)

Colberg Viola Concerto

Essentially, there are three major concertos for viola. They form the core of the solo concerto repertoire. They are the Bartok, Walton and Hindemith. Although they are truly great works, I find that for some first time concertgoers the pieces can be a little hard to digest. So, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and write one of my own.  I wanted to write something that would be accessible to a greater audience.
The concerto is in three movements but each movement can be played independently of the other; it can also be seen as three concert pieces. Each movement depicts a person from Cervantes’ Don Quixote. The first movement is Alonso before he embarks on the journey that renames him Don Quixote. It is who he was just moments before his sense of reality and fantasy became a blur. The second movement is Aldonza as she really was and not as Don Quixote’s Dulcinea. The third movement is Sancho as he was, is, and always will be. 
	
I recorded the complete concerto with Julie Spangler playing the orchestra piano reduction.  Julie was also kind enough to create the piano reduction. 



Viola Concerto - Movement 3 (Sancho)

Colberg Viola Concerto

Essentially, there are three major concertos for viola. They form the core of the solo concerto repertoire. They are the Bartok, Walton and Hindemith. Although they are truly great works, I find that for some first time concertgoers the pieces can be a little hard to digest. So, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and write one of my own.  I wanted to write something that would be accessible to a greater audience.
The concerto is in three movements but each movement can be played independently of the other; it can also be seen as three concert pieces. Each movement depicts a person from Cervantes’ Don Quixote. The first movement is Alonso before he embarks on the journey that renames him Don Quixote. It is who he was just moments before his sense of reality and fantasy became a blur. The second movement is Aldonza as she really was and not as Don Quixote’s Dulcinea. The third movement is Sancho as he was, is, and always will be. 
	
I recorded the complete concerto with Julie Spangler playing the orchestra piano reduction.  Julie was also kind enough to create the piano reduction.

Viola Concerto - Movement 1 (Alonso)

Principal Viola Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and teacher at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

ColbergViola

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