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A New Concerto Is Born

Working with composers and my passion for the Viola

By Brett Douglas DeubnerPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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Premiering a new concerto in Quito, Ecuador

On January 13, 2019, violist Brett Deubner will be soloist in the premiere performance of Viola Conceto by Maestro Robert W. Butts at our upcoming January 13, 2019 concert. BONJ Board member, J. Scott Sommerer, interviewed the internationally acclaimed recording artist.

You studied both viola and violin. What made you ultimately choose the viola?

I fell in love with the sound of the viola while I was a student at the Eastman School of Music. I was very attracted to the seemingly unlimited colors on the viola. While I am a huge fan of the great violinists of today and past generations, I find that my own "voice" is best represented on the viola.

What violist has influenced you the most?

Hard to say which has "most" influenced me. I think in many ways we are all making our own musical journey and along the way we are privileged to encounter various people and experience life changing events that help to shape us. I believe our foundational teachers play a crucial role in our development. As a professor at the Aaron Copland School, I understand what a wonderful exchange of ideas this can be. As teachers we learn every bit as much as the student. After all, we are only helping to motivate the student to find their own true voice, to perhaps inspire but ultimately to advise, guide and share.

When you look at the viola in three different settings, say solo, chamber music and viola concertos, would you have a favorite work in each of these three categories? Perhaps works that you would recommend for your students to hear.

I am so fortunate to have had numerous works in all three of those genres (and many more, such as chamber works with voice, music for viola and film, etc). But I would point my students and colleagues to the music of American composer Max Wolpert, Italian composer Maurizio Bignone, and Swedish composer Tommie Haglund. All three have written solo, chamber music and concertos for me. All three have unique voices and are wonderful people!

Do you think there is a composer who seems to have the greatest affinity for writing for the viola and making the greatest use of the instrument’s range?

Paul Hindemith was not only one of the greatest composers but also a violist... He is certainly one I think fits that category!

Do you feel that there is a paucity of repertoire for viola? If you do feel this way, would you say it has inspired you to premier so many works?

I think there is a great range of wonderful works for the viola from the Baroque, through the classical, romantic and contemporary. While there have not been many viola soloists historically, the instrument was a favorite of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Bartok and of course many modern composers. My good fortune to collaborate with composers world wide has not been prompted by a desire to increase the repertoire as much as it has been out of a love of "the process." Working with a living composer to help bring a new work to life is a long tradition between composers and performers. I just happen to play the viola and I'm thrilled that so many wonderful composers have been willing to write for me. And in this world where there is so much division and closed mindedness, we need to embrace our humanity. Through art I feel I can help play a role in helping to celebrate what unites us.

What is your favorite transcription piece to play?

Interesting question. I feel that every piece is ultimately a "transcription" in that it takes on a new life in the hands of different performers, whether it is the Brahms sonatas(originally written for clarinet but later "transcribed" by Brahms himself) or the Rebecca Clarke sonata (herself a wonderful violist). I think music is music. I also don't have a "favorite piece of music." I would say I am most attracted to music that sings.

Do you have a favorite Deubner CD?

I am very fond of all my CDs (now approaching 20!). For me, a CD recording is a "snapshot" of a collection of works. As an artist I am constantly growing, learning and trying to improve my craft. I would say the last several CD projects have been very enjoyable: The Levy works for Viola on Naxos, the Concertos of Wolpert and Harberg in Naxos Deep Sky Blue, which is a CD of all original works by French and American composers on the U07 label, are special.

Can you list your CDs?

My discography can be found on my website: www.brettdouglasdeubner.com

Regarding the piece you will play on January 13, would you say it is primarily a 20th-century based work? Or does it have other elements?

The concerto I will be premiering is a 21st-century work composed for me by the BONJ music director, Robert Butts. He is a dear friend and colleague.

His style is inspired by his rock and roll background as a guitarist so it should be lots of fun for everyone!

Interview by Scott Sommerer

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About the Creator

Brett Douglas Deubner

I'm a musician who gets to travel the world performing as soloist with Orchestras, teach at Festivals and share my love of music with audiences. I teach in NYC at the Aaron Copland School of Music. Here are stories about my travels...

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