The cycle The Viola in My Life by Morton Feldman consists of four independent works written for more or less significant instrumental combinations, all sharing the presence of the viola as a soloist. The music is built on an abstract and contemplative lyricism. We immediately recognise the Feldman method, made of repeated motifs, in the minimalist school style, but not in a pulsed manner, nor with a solid tonal anchor. The motifs are sustained and unfold slowly. The work dates from 1970-71.
We notice a more elaborate instrumental and narrative development than in the other masterpieces that will follow, such as Piano and String Quartet from 1985, where the material is extremely sparse. Thus, rather than being plunged into a minimalist hypnotic trance, we are guided into a sound garden made of ever-vivid surprises, in which the required attention, to fully appreciate the whole, does not suffer from passivity.
Antoine Tamestit, who himself made the viola the centre of his life quite early in his career, absorbs this archi-intimate writing very well. He breathes a great, whispered strength into this score, woven like a spider’s web made only of fleeting textures. Depending on the movement in the cycle, he is accompanied by a piano, a flute, a violin, a cello, percussion and even an orchestra, and all with the same gentleness and the same concentration on the great subtlety of the gestures.
An essential album for those looking for modern music of unparalleled finesse.
