Lillian Fuchs’s Sonata Pastorale and the Evolution of Her Compositional Voice

Lillian Fuchs (1902–1995) is a central figure in the development of modern viola repertoire. Celebrated equally for her artistry as a performer and skill as a pedagogue, Fuchs left behind a body of work that continues to shape how violists train, perform, and teach. Her Twelve Caprices laid the groundwork for a technical and expressive approach to the instrument, but it is her Sonata Pastorale—composed shortly thereafter—that reveals her compositional voice at its most expansive and personal.

This presentation centers on the Sonata Pastorale as a pivotal work in Fuchs’s output: a concert piece that bridges her virtuosic early writing with the pedagogical refinement found in her later Sixteen Fantasy Etudes and Fifteen Characteristic Studies. Written for solo viola, the Sonata Pastorale is a richly expressive work featuring modal colors, contrapuntal texture, and idiomatic writing. Without departing from her pedagogical focus, it reflects her core musical values—expressiveness, clear phrasing, and solid technique.

Though often overshadowed by her études, the Sonata Pastorale can be understood as a compositional turning point: a fully realized artistic statement that would go on to inform and inspire the design of her later teaching materials. This session will examine connections between the sonata and her pedagogical works, highlighting recurring technical motifs (such as intervallic shaping, double stops, and modal inflections) and shared expressive aims.

The presentation will culminate in a complete performance of the Sonata Pastorale, offering audiences a chance to hear Fuchs’s musical voice in full bloom. In re-evaluating this work within the broader context of her compositional timeline, we gain not only a deeper appreciation for the sonata itself, but also a richer understanding of the artistic foundation beneath her enduring pedagogical legacy.

Presenter:
Katrin Meidell