In 1998, composer Joan Tower was commissioned by violist Paul Neubauer (a perennial Chamber Music NW favorite) to write a work for solo viola. The result was Wild Purple, a fantastic tour de force that shows off the virtuosity of today’s violist. The title came from Tower’s association of the sound of the viola with a deep, rich, purple color. Ten years later, Neubauer commissioned a follow-up piece, which became Simply Purple. Also in 2008 there was a viola concerto entitled Purple Rhapsody, also composed for Neubauer.
Here’s video of a performance of Simply Purple by Neubauer: