Solo Viola
…and like thee, Nero is a work for unaccompanied viola written for Caroline Olsen. The title is a reference to Shakespeare’s Henry VI, which is the origin of the classic image of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. This piece represents a modern version of this as, in the face of the climate crisis and other critical issues, we collectively alternate between willful ignorance of the issues and useless panic. The piece begins in a neo-classical style, almost a parody of classical music, but is consistently interrupted by passages in a more aggressive and dissonant style. In the end, the piece simply stops, running out of time; neither the distraction nor the anxiety has accomplished anything.
for information on obtaining sheet music, please contact me at WalkerWilliamsMusic@gmail.com