Works for Solo Viola and Singing/Whistling Violist
The Norse Voyager for Singing Violist (2024) or Solo Viola (2026, score excerpt forthcoming)
'Instrumentation: Singing Violist or Solo Viola
Durata: 5:00
Commissioned by Povilas Syrrist-Gelgota
Short description: The Norse Voyager is inspired by both Norwegian and Turkish folk music, and creates vivid and colourful musical landscapes during a five-minute musical journey.
YouTube - PDF-Excerpt - Singing violist version - Programme Note
Land of Rain and Songs for Singing and Whistling Violist (2023) or Solo Viola (2026, score excerpt forthcoming)
Instrumentation: Singing and Whistling Violist or Solo Viola
Durata: 4:30
Commissioned by Povilas Syrrist-Gelgota
Short description: Land of Rain and Songs draws on two very different Lithuanian songs, weaving them into a colourful and expressive musical landscape. The work combines voice, whistle and viola to create a soundworld shaped by folk inflections and lyrical resonance.
YouTube - PDF-Excerpt - Programme Note
Dark, Dark Sky for Solo Viola (2020)
'Instrumentation: Solo Viola
Durata: 4:30
Commissioned by Povilas Syrrist-Gelgota
Short description: Dark, Dark Sky is a lyrical and atmospheric work for solo viola, inspired by the Taiwanese folk song Tian Hei Hei (《天黑黑》). The piece blends naturalistic gestures with fragments of the original melody, creating a colourful and evocative soundworld.
YouTube - PDF-Excerpt - Programme Note
Song of the Mountain People for Singing Violist (2019) or Solo Viola (2026, score excerpt forthcoming)
'Instrumentation: Singing Violist or Solo Viola
Durata: 5:30
Commissioned by Povilas Syrrist-Gelgota
Short description: Song of the Mountain People is based on a folk song from the Paiwan people, one of the Indigenous groups of Taiwan. The music reflects the beauty and simplicity of the original melody, while also drawing inspiration from the dramatic mountain landscapes of Southern Taiwan, where the Paiwan people live.
YouTube - PDF-Excerpt - Singing violist version - Programme Note
A memorable part of the concert was Vidar Kristensen’s Song of the Mountain People. Although Norwegian music, the piece is inspired by Taiwanese folk songs and was performed here by a Lithuanian violist at this International Viola Congress in Thailand — truly ‘music without borders’.
Kristofer Ganer Skaug, Dutch Viola Society
