Suite for Viola (or Cello) and Orchestra

This composition was inspired, and originally titled, according to a romantic vision of the Far East,(which Ernest Bloch had never visited). At one time the suite had a set of descriptive titles, which begun with In the Jungle(Life in the Primitive World)- at attempt to portray Nature in its wildest and most primitive state. The second movement was known as 'Grotesque (Simian Stage)' - it is sardonic and fantastic. The third movement was wasinspired by the tales of a close friend about a night-time journey through Javanese villages from which could be heard the distant sound of wooden musical instruments. The finale, originally Land of the Sun (China)was,Bloch said, the most cheerful thing I ever wrote. It is based on pentatonic motives (like a common Chinese scale) and also recalls music from the other movements.

This is the full score of this work.