Romances - Six short pieces for Viola and Piano by Poul Ruders. Programme note According to tradition a mid- or late-19th century instrumental Romance - or Romanza - is a shortish composition of predominantly melodic nature with a slight leaning toward the sentimental.In several European languages such as German French and Danish the word for navel i.e. an unfolding drama in writing is Roman and although there's nothing literary about my Six Romances for viola and piano each piece tells its own story open to individual inner interpretation. Portal forms the opening chapter so to speak pavingthe way for the second movement named Even Song. Maybe it's just a simple tune heard at sunset perhaps the melody is carried from far away over the hills from inside the village church...Titles such as Ballad and Dirge (song of mourning) immediately reveal the nature and mood of the music to come where-as the concluding piece Duet is slightly more 'mysterious.'In a classic duet the two instruments in question or more likely voices complement each other benevolently. In the present case however the viola and the piano both stand firm protection their own turf - and - 'the twain shall never meet!'The piece is very short indeed it just stops leaving the listener to finish the 'story' in his or her own imagination. A true open ending. (Poul Ruders)