Output details

The Scottish Viola: a tribute to Watson Forbes

This research project consisted in drawing together, studying, interpreting and recording a series of works associated with the great Scottish violist Watson Forbes. All of the performances on the disc are world premiere recordings of this repertoire, with the exception of the Orr Sonata, of which there exists a recording of a radio broadcast by James Durrant.

The disc aims to convey the breadth of Forbes' activities as an arranger and transcriber, alongside original works written for him by significant twentieth century British composers. Sebastian Forbes’ St Andrews Solo was written as a test piece for the 2009 Watson Forbes International Viola Competition, held in Forbes's birthplace that year. The Alwyn Sonatina No2 was not published at the time of the recording, but has subsequently appeared in print following Outram’s work with the Alwyn Foundation, and is based on the surviving performing materials and Alwyn's much-amended autograph score. Forbes’ arrangement of Nardini’s Concerto was out of print at the time of the recording, but is now available again as a result of increased interest in this repertoire. Outram also performed several items of the CD at the March 2013 Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival on the Isle of Man, an event attended by violists from all over the world.

The recording was made with the financial support of the Alwyn Foundation.