Upshift for solo violin by Tom Swafford Sheet Music for Violin Solo at Sheet Music Direct

Product Details

Title Upshift for solo violin

Artist Tom Swafford

Score Type

PDF, Included with PASS

Composer Tom Swafford

Format Digital Sheet Music

Pages 4

Arrangement Violin Solo

Publisher Tom Swafford

Level 4

Product ID 1010338

Genre Folk Contemporary 20th Century

Instruments Violin

Product Description

Upshift is a rhythmic, energetic show-piece for solo violin. The title refers to the image of a car speeding up, revving its engine and shifting to an ever higher gear. Despite the word "shift," the piece is entirely in first position. The challenge is maintaining the multi-voice, polyrhythmic energy. Although the time signature remains 12/8, there should also be a 6/4 feeling, and this tension between a two beat and a three beat feel is what drives the piece. It is influenced by West African music, which I learned about in Ghanaian musician C. K. Ladzekpos classes at U.C. Berkeley. I recommend keeping the bow hair looser than usual in order to get all the strings to fully resonate on the three note chords. Upshift is on my 2021 album, Bound to Go Away. This notated version is slightly different from the version I recorded. Players are welcome to take liberties with the piece, add embellishments, repeats, and so on.

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