Sixteen Fantasy Etudes for Viola by Lillian Fuchs
Published by International
Violist, teacher, and composer Lillian Fuchs (1901-95) was one of the outstanding players of her generation. As a violist, she was master of repertory standards--Pablo Casals once remarked that her performance of the Bach suites on viola made them sound better than on cello. She also played rarities and commissioned new works, such as Bohuslav Martinu's ''Three Madrigals'' for violin and viola for herself and her brother Joseph. Her influence as a teacher of both viola and chamber music was great--her pupils included Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zukerman, and Dorothy DeLay.
Fuchs wrote several collections of technical studies for viola, all noted for their musicality and imagination. Her ''Sixteen Fantasy Etudes'' are no exception. They take the next step in difficulty from her "Fifteen Characteristic Studies'', testing every level of the advanced violist's technique on the level of a bravura concert performer.
