This powerful
short work for solo Viola is based upon the theme 'Wir setzen uns mit
Tranen nieder'
forming the last choral movement of the great work by J.S.Bach “The
St. Matthew Passion” BWV 244 (1727). This present original work
of Johnstone was composed as the concluding work in a programme dedicated
to special celebrations surrounding 'St. Jacque's Way' (Camino de Santiago),
an important pilgrim's route across all of north Spain leading to the
Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, but it has quickly become a
well-respected piece of viola literature standing up in its own right
as a recital work. In the space of eighteen months alone it has received
more than twenty public performances. Although not primarily virtuoso,
it never-the-less contains substantial technical difficulties which make
it a sensible choice to be placed alongside other longer solo instrumental
works, or as a highly-driven and effective 'encore' piece. These difficulties,
however, should be quite surmountable to the intermediate to advanced
violist, and richly gains by seeming to the concert going public rather
more complicated to perform than in fact it is! The language could be
classified as being more romantic than baroque, reflecting that the idea
has not been to write a period piece, but rather a more modern, intense
work which can equally well show respect to Johann Sebastian Bach. The
performance time is about four minutes. It is affectionately dedicated
to the Spanish viola player and professor Fernando López Garcín
who has so artistically and willingly participated in many projects with
the composer.
