Will Frampton
The Braid
Duration: 5'
Solos:
viola
The Braid
Sample pages
Work introduction
The Braid is a work for solo viola. It centers on a single musical line which is loud, highly energetic, and gradually ascends from low to high. After the second of these ascents a new material is heard which is quiet, repetitive, and slow. This material is violently interrupted by an exact repeat of the opening bars of the piece. After several interruptions the original line of music is heard again but now taking on some of the characteristics of the secondary material: quiet and slow. As a final ascent is made to the top of the instrument the performer is prompted into making a choice between ending the piece quietly or playing an optional coda which recalls the energy and volume of the opening passage.