The Viola Air for solo viola and string orchestra, here with a piano reduction, is a heartfelt love song in the form of a long arching lament, built around a simple and passionate theme woven through the strings. The principal idea is first heard on the solo viola and passes through to the violins and then a solo cello before slowly building towards a climactic statement about half way through. The music then subsides leaving the theme exposed in a more relaxed setting before arriving at its conclusion in quiet, calm suspension. (Paul Carr)
It was written for and is dedicated to Peter Sulski.
The version for viola with string orchestra is available - catalogue number GMCO084.
There are also versions of this work for string orchestra without soloist (GMCO080) and also for full orchestra (GMCO081).
Duration: about 10 minutes