Paul Chihara composed his Viola Concerto No. 2, “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Warrior,” for his friend and colleague, violist Richard O’Neill, in whom he saw a kindred spirit. Decades apart, the lives of Chihara and O’Neill have followed parallel lines: both were born near Seattle, both endured childhoods marred by anti-Asian American bigotry and by the terrible legacies of war, and both found escape and ultimately triumph through music.

In a nod to O’Neill’s Korean roots, the concerto features the traditional Korean melody “Arirang,” which Chihara describes as “the soul of Korea: its warmth for human suffering, passion and loyalty. You don’t have to be Korean to love this melody, which is both joyous and melancholy, Asian and Western in key and mode.” Ultimately, the “warrior” of the title is not fighting for a nation or a government but for the world, for beauty, peace and reconciliation.

Composed in four discrete, contrasting movements, totalling approximately 16 minutes’ duration, Paul Chihara’s Second Viola Concerto was commissioned by Chun Eun-Kyung for Richard O’Neill and the Seoul Philharmonic, who premiered the piece in May of 2022 under the baton of Osmo Vnsk. This full score is available for sale as part of the Peters Contemporary Library, with orchestral parts available for rent.

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