This viola solo was written for my daughter's final recital for her degree at Liverpool University. It had to be of concerto standard. In Greek mythology the Heliads were the sisters of Phaeton who was killed by Zeus when he drove the chariot of the Sun out of control. They cried without ceasing till the Zeus took pity and turned them to poplar trees. Their tears dripped into the water of the Eridanus river, and became beads of Amber. The piece starts with the grieving of the Heliads, then their tears turn to glowing Amber.