Planctus (2005) for solo viola is dedicated to Alexandra Green, on her birthday.
Planctus (noun, Latin) &ndash, Medieval style of song and poetry of a lamenting character.
They were sung both in Latin and in the vernacular (common language), treated both
religious and secular subjects, and were popular throughout Europe.
The work is cast in song form. Like later examples of the "planctus", the work becomes not
truly a "lament", but a more general song.
The same rubato and musicality that is used in playing the unaccompanied cello suites of J. S.
Bach should be applied to this piece. Always singing, always lyrical, always flexible, always
keeping in mind the different "voices" and harmonies (implied and stated) occurring in the
music.