Wood-Sprite

Description

Violin — The wood-sprite — a mythical, fairy-like being — appears in folklore as a diminutive guardian of the forest, often watching over a single tree. Sometimes mischievous, sometimes gentle, these creatures may serve as playful tricksters or benevolent stewards of the natural world and its wanderers.I was drawn to this image not only by memories of a childhood spent near a beloved woodland, but also by the nature of the violin itself — an instrument born of the forest, crafted from maple, spruce, and ebony. Who’s to say a wood-sprite doesn’t dwell within it?This piece invites the performer to embrace — and perhaps even exaggerate — its mercurial character: lyrical lines laced with quicksilver gestures, sudden shifts in tone and color, bold dynamic contrasts, and unexpected changes in tempo. Let your instrument channel the elusive spirit of the wood sprite! Just like the forest spirits who inspired this caprice, WOOD-SPRITE is both mischievous and gentle. Wagner invites performers to “let your instrument channel the elusive spirit of the wood-sprite,” noting that the violin is also born of the forest. This challenging 4½-minute work was commissioned for the 2026 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSwptPX5h5Y to hear many competitors' performances!

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