Forsyth Dark Road

AVS Publications 024
the dark road

theme for VIOLA solo
and string orchestra
Cecil Forsyth
(18701941)

Preface

The Anglo-American violist and composer Cecil Forsyth never matched the early success of his
Viola Concerto, which premiered at a 1903 Promenade concert to much acclaim. Enjoying wide
popularity for the next quarter century, the concerto fell out of favor as other twentieth-century
viola concertos by more prominent composers appeared. Fortunately the concerto has enjoyed a
resurgence in the twenty-first century, admired for its melodic bravura, dramatic intensity, and
lush lyricism.

Forsyth turned to the medium of viola and orchestra on two other occasions: in 1905 with
Chanson Celtique, a work that also enjoyed modest popularity, and in 1922 with The Dark Road,
for viola and string orchestra. The Dark Road premiered on November 27, 1922, with Mrs.
Schradieck Aue as soloist at the inaugural concert for the Montclair Art Association Orchestra,
the predecessor of the New J ersey Symphony Orchestra. According to the program notes from
that concert, the work is practically formed out of one very simple six-note theme. This is
treated for many measures with considerable sombreness and severity of effect; but later gives
way to a sweeter version of itself (in the major) which is built up to a climax. This leads, by
means of a little bridge-passage, to a return of the original subject.

The works somber mood and repetitive treatment of the thematic material did not captivate the
attention of violists, though an arrangement for solo organ fared better. The composition,
however, exhibits Forsyths skill at melody and orchestration, and it is an important contribution
to the early repertoire of American music written for viola and string orchestra. This new edition
is based on the score and set of parts published by H. W. Gray in 1922.

David M. Bynog, editor
B
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4
Solo Viola
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
Largo sostenuto (q = about 60)

Con sord.
Con sord.
Con sord.
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Con sord.
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poco
poco
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2
The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
American Viola Society 2013, AVS 024
Edited by David M. Bynog
Theme for Viola Solo and String Orchestra
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cresc.
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Forsyth - The Dark Road 2
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30
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Forsyth - The Dark Road
3
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82

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Tempo I
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rit.
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a tempo
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54

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The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
Solo Viola
B
b
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59

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b
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64
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88
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p
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w
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93
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103
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dim.

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b
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w
w
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p

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Forsyth - The Dark Road - Solo Viola
2
&
b
b
4
4
8
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1
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2
3 3 3
3
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b
b
54

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b
b
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w
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82
3 3 3 3
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b
88
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The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
Violin I
&
b
b
4
4
8
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1
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2

3 3 3 3
p
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b
27
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b
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w
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b
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b
82
3 3 3
3
Tempo I
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b
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The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
Violin II
B
b
b
4
4
8
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b
b
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b
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82

3 3 3 3
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.
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3
3
p
.

3
3
3 P
B
b
b
88
.
p
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9
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The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
Viola
?
b
b
4
4
2
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w
w
2
w
poco
w
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b
b

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w
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w
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b
15

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1
w
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b
22
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p
3
w
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b
b
28
w
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b
b

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p
subito
4
w
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w
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poco cresc.

n

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b
b
39

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f
5
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p

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F
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b
b
44
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p

1

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rit.
w
a tempo
6
The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
Cello
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b
b
50
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w
w

p

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n
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espress.
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b
56
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cresc.
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b
b
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w
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f
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b
b
67

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b
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.
rit. cresc.

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f
4
8
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b
b
82

-
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P
J
-

>

p

-
P
J
-

>

p

1
?
b
b
87

>

P
J

p

>

p

9
1
w
-
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b
b
93

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poco cresc.
subito

>

b
dim. sempre
10
?
b
b
99
w
n b
b
b
w
w w
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b
b
106
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w w
w
w
j

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b
b
4
4
w

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w
w

poco

?
b
b
7

poco
1
w
-

-
w
-
?
b
b
13

-
subito
w
-

2
1
?
b
b
19
w
-

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poco cresc.
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>

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b
b

-
p
3
w
-

-
w
-

-
poco cresc.

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b
b
31

-
w
-
F

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p
subito
4
w
-

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w
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-
poco cresc.
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b
b
38

n

-
w
-
F

-
f
5

-
.
p

-
F
?
b
b
44
-
.
p

1

>

P
w
p

>

rit.
a tempo
6

The Dark Road
Cecil Forsyth
Bass
?
b
b
51

pizz.
p

1

arco
4 Senza sord.
?
b
b
61
-

-

Poco stringendo
p cresc.
-

-

-

-
w
F

Poco pi mosso
7
f
>

?
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Forsyth - The Dark Road - Bass 2

AVS Publications

VIOLA SOLO

Ivan Langstroth
Viola Suite. AVS 022

Quincy Porter
Suite for Viola Alone. AVS 008

Frederick Slee
Variations on a Hymn Tune for Solo Viola. AVS 003

VIOLA AND PIANO

Blanche Blood
Barcarolle for Viola and Piano. AVS 002

Arthur Foote
Melody for Viola and Piano, op. 44a. AVS 015

Carl Fuerstner
Two Pieces for Viola and Piano. AVS 021

Quincy Porter
Speed Etude for Viola and Piano. AVS 007

Gustav Strube
Regrets for Viola and Piano. AVS 010

Theodore Thomas
Divertissement for Viola and Piano. AVS 006

VIOLIN AND VIOLA

Louise Lincoln Kerr
Etude. AVS 020

J. N. Pychowski
Perpetual Canon. AVS 017

TWO VIOLAS

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Canon for Two Violas. AVS 004

THREE VIOLAS

Scott Slapin
Capricious. AVS 012

VIOLA ENSEMBLE
(FOUR OR MORE)

J. S. Bach
Sinfonia from the Cantata: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee
vom Himmel fllt. AVS 005

Matthias Durst
Adagio for Four Violas. AVS 001

Adagio from String Sinfonia VIII. AVS 011a

Hendrik Waelput
Cantabile for Four Violas. AVS 018

Max von Weinzierl
Nachtstck fr 4 Violen, op. 34. AVS 009

VIOLA AND ORCHESTRA

Cecil Forsyth
The Dark Road for Viola and String Orchestra. AVS 024

W. A. Mozart
Principal Viola Part for Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364,
Extended Scordatura Edition. AVS 019

Principal Viola Part for Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364,
Scordatura Edition. AVS 019a

MIXED ENSEMBLES

J. S. Bach
Chorale: Ich, dein betrubtes Kind, for Soprano, Viola
obligata, and Continuo from the Cantata Mein Herze
schwimmt im Blut. AVS 013

Ergiee dich reichlich,du gttliche Quelle, Aria for Tenor,
Viola, and Continuo from the Cantata Wo soll ich fliehen hin.
AVS 014

Sinfonia from the Cantata: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee
vom Himmel fllt. AVS 005

Michael Colgrass
Revisions to Variations for Four Drums and Viola. AVS 016

Adagio from String Sinfonia VIII. AVS 011

http://americanviolasociety.org/resources/scores/

Forsyth Dark Road

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AVS Publications 024

the dark road

Largo sostenuto (q = about 60)

Forsyth - The Dark Road

Largo sostenuto (q = about 60)

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