This recording brings together all the works composed for the outstanding violist Lionel Tertis. Tertis significantly shaped the British viola scene at the beginning of the 20th century, setting new standards and even designing his own viola model. He initially taught as a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music in London and later became a professor; his exceptional abilities impressed the young conductor Henry Wood, who eventually engaged him as principal viola.
Through Tertis's work, the viola was established as an independent solo instrument. His commitment to contemporary compositions inspired younger composers such as Arnold Bax and Benjamin Dale. The solo concerto written by John Blackwood McEwen specifically for Tertis brought the viola into sharp focus as a solo instrument. McEwen and Tertis jointly championed new music, resulting in McEwen's Viola Concerto as a collaborative work for the Royal Academy.
McEwen, whose repertoire ranged from chamber music to large orchestral works such as the Solway Symphony, was initially highly regarded but later faded into obscurity. His Viola Concerto impressively placed the viola at the center and is considered a significant composition even before the advent of Impressionism.
Ralph Vaughan Williams, a major British composer, received a comprehensive musical education and only later gained recognition for works such as the Sea Symphony and the London Symphony. His compositions, often inspired by poets like Walt Whitman and John Bunyan, are characterized by a humanistic worldview and have only recently achieved full appreciation.
Flos Campi, an innovative work by Vaughan Williams, was premiered by Lionel Tertis with the Queen’s Hall Orchestra. Although the composition is based on biblical texts, it is to be understood as a love song rather than a religious work. Ten years later, he composed the Suite for Viola and Small Orchestra, also dedicated to Tertis, which is distinguished by its sophisticated orchestration and rich tonal colors.