…under the circumstances…, by Emily Howard

…under the circumstances… is a short, reflective and intimate piece for solo viola inspired by Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Military March no.1. I like to use other composers’ work as a starting point for my compositions – it always feels a bit like I am building on history and this inspires me to write. Also, as a lapsed cellist, I remember many misspent teenage years in the cello sections of youth orchestras fed on a “Last Night of the Proms” diet that always included Pomp and Circumstance! So the piece is close to my heart and I still know the cello part by memory.

But what about the viola part? I had a quick look at Elgar’s score to remind me of what I had suspected all along – that they never get the big tune (us cellos do)! So my piece is entirely based on the persistent double stopped chords in the viola part that harmonise the Land of Hope and Glory melody.  I’ve changed the ordering and articulation of some of the chords as well as creating loops of repeating chords. In doing so, my aim has been to create a different melodic shape out of the harmonies, as well as a sense of harmonic progression through a circular maze of chords, always underpinned by rhythmic stability. But essentially you can still sing parts of the Land of Hope and Glory melody over the top of this piece and it should work! Oh… and I have since been informed that viola players tend to share all the double stops in the Elgar, so my piece is rather more difficult to play than I had imagined…

I would like to thank my friends Laura Robinson (viola) and Thom Harrison (www.harrisonics.co.uk), who, at very short notice, were able to put this recording together.

• For more information please visit my website at http://www.emilyhoward.com