• Holly Harrison
  • Hotwire (2019)
    (for viola and orchestra)

  • Wise Music G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd (World)
  • va + 1.1.2.2/4.2.2.1/timp.perc/hp/str
  • Viola
  • 11 min

Programme Note

Hotwire is inspired by the act of hotwiring: starting an engine without the key, usually associated with vehicle theft. In this analogy, the orchestra is a luxury car and the viola, the thief. The viola hijacks the orchestra, taking it for an off-road spin across rugged terrain and cruise-control motorways. A wild police chase ensues! Stylistically, the work embraces bluegrass and metal guitar techniques, reimagined on viola, including a high amount of slides, scrapes, bends, power chords, and whammy-bar wails.

Media

Reviews