David Matthews: Music for Solo Violin and Viola, Volume Three
David Matthews and Peter Sheppard Skærved have been collaborating on a series of works for violin and viola for many years now, with Matthews setting Sheppard Skærved formidable technical challenges, and Sheppard Skærved surprising Matthews by finding a way to overcome the difficulties in his path. Behind all the pyrotechnics, this partnership is generating one of the largest, and most musically rewarding, body of compositions for violin and viola by any living composer. Many of Matthews’ pieces record his experience of nature or offer tributes to friends, with the works heard in this third volume also tracing a journey from darkness to light.
Peter Sheppard Skærved, violin and viola
Listen To This Recording:
- Fantasia for Viola, Op. 5 No. 1 (1970, rev. 2003) (8:52)
- Darkness Draws In for Viola, Op. 102 (2006) (8:26)
Arctic Suite for Viola, Op. 172 (2024) (10:14)
- I. First Northern Song (1:34)
- II. Mountains (2:26)
- III. Northern Lights (2:50)
- IV. Snow (1:46)
- V. Second Northern Song (1:38)
Three Birthday Pieces for Violin, Op. 167 (2023) (11:20)
- No. 1, For John Carewe (3:36)
- No. 2, For Robin Walker (4:14)
- No. 3, For William Howard (3:30)
Six Fantasias for Violin, Op. 147 Nos. 2-6 (2017) (17:43)
- No. 2, Capriccio – Fantasia (3:07)
- No. 3, Brno Fantasia (3:21)
- No. 4, Sibeliad (1:48)
- No. 5, Fantasia on Rachmaninov’s Prelude in G minor (3:38)
- No. 6, Midwinter Song (5:49)
- Dancing Shiva for Violin, Op. 160a (14:11)
First Recordings
Classical Music Daily :
‘The performance of the solo artist in [Fantasia for Viola] does not disappoint – his warm and somewhat throaty sound is much to my liking. […]
Peter Sheppard Skærved [in Arctic Suite for Viola] shows what a fine viola player he is. […]
I think he is an excellent writer of variations. The performances [of Three Birthday Pieces] are impeccable. […]
The original conception [of Dancing Shiva] had the composer envisaging a sitar, and the ornate, often florid passages that are sometimes meditative and almost improvisational in nature give rise to a very interesting and varied work. I like this work very much, as I am sure other listeners will.
Usually, a disk for a solo melody instrument would not really draw in my interest, but David Matthews’ music really appeals, and Peter Sheppard Skærved is a violinist I admire very much. The recorded sound is pleasing and the booklet has very useful and fascinating information by both the composer and his friend of twenty years, Peter Sheppard Skærved. I urge you to give this fine disk your attention. You will come away the richer.’
—Geoff Pearce, Classical Music Daily
American Record Guide :
‘Matthews has worked closely for the last 30 years with Skaerved, who handles both violin and viola solos here. He is a fine musician. The music is brooding, wistful, and mournful, with strong Nordic influence. It is tonal, but sometimes relies on modes to bring in more ancient undertones. It has true instincts and artistic insight, […].’
—Ned Kellenberger, American Record Guide, Jan 2026
Fanfare :
‘The composer notes the Expressionistic and Bergian overtones in [Fantasia] and I hear these too, although I also perceive a highly individual style at play. The episodic character of the work, along with certain devices such as tremolo, well evokes the title and keeps the listener involved. […]
Matthews has written a truly lovely work here {Darkness Draws In], effectively employing the viola’s differing colors through its various registers and its naturally rich and warm sound, one that Skærved enhances in masterful fashion. […]
In his works for violin, Matthews is as skillful in writing to the strengths of the instrument as he is for viola, although the level of virtuosity required in the violin pieces is elevated several notches. I experienced nothing short of unalloyed enjoyment from his works for two of my favorite instruments, both of which I used to play myself (although I was nowhere near Skærved’s league). Seventy minutes might seem like a long time for a recording of a solo instrument, but Matthews varies the character, texture, and (to a lesser extent) the style of the pieces so that boredom is never a danger. Anyone who is even casually interested in solo string music will thoroughly enjoy this CD, which also features wonderful recorded sound and the always informative program notes that are a hallmark of Toccata’s releases. Most assuredly recommended.’
—David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare, March 2026