Reger Suite for Viola No. 1 - 2. Vivace

This is probably the most difficult movement in the Suite, which is partly why it took me so long to make another video! It is a fun piece, though, with big dynamic contrasts and lots of dramatic gestures. The contrasting middle section is slower and more melodic, and is really quite beautiful. When I played this piece in school, I thought of this as the “funny” movement, but playing it now I detect nastiness in the laughter that I did not notice before. I think I was probably too concerned with playing the double stops in tune to notice how mournful the melodic middle section is, and how the laughter surrounding it might be more cruel than mirthful.