Finding new repertoire Options

[RoseRodent]

How do you choose new things to play, assuming you don't have thigns allocated by a teacher, an exam syllabus you want to pursue, etc. I do tend to glance through the diploma lists to see what is at the right sort of level for me to pursue, but the lists don't exactly change for viola. I also tend to gravitate towards the things I already know and the things that belong to the ear that I like. I'm a definite follower of the "If it ain't baroque don't play it" mantra, but need to expand my ear to be able to quickly interpret music from other eras.

I tend to listen to things and decide I want to play them, but since moving out of home and losing my dad's never-ending CD collection I don't have that regular exposure to new things. How do you get in touch with new repertoire that inspires you to want to play? If I played violin, piano, etc. I'm sure that radio stations would provide more inspiration, but a viola doesn't tend to appear on the airwaves every day. Then add in that I'm not that huge a fan of playing solo in the first place but do not have the rest of a string quartet available to me and I end up stuck in the same old mire. Where do you get your inspiration from?

[vectistim]

Have you tried chucking 'viola' into spotify's search tool?

You could follow a musical history line, eg: You might like Telemann's viola pieces - so who did he teach, who was influenced by him etc

[BadStrad]

You could try here http://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_Compositions...uring_the_Viola

[viola-mad]

I like to mine the depths of Youtube. I start off looking for something, one click leads to another, and by some combination of following suggested video links and searching for background information on the internet generally, I often come across something I never knew existed.

Of course, it doesn't always marry up with my current level of playing. Sometimes things are easier (which is nice for a change). The harder things, if I like them, go on my list of things to aspire to.

[floboe]

I like to mine the depths of Youtube. I start off looking for something, one click leads to another, and by some combination of following suggested video links and searching for background information on the internet generally, I often come across something I never knew existed.

Of course, it doesn't always marry up with my current level of playing. Sometimes things are easier (which is nice for a change). The harder things, if I like them, go on my list of things to aspire to.

I agree, I have found 2 new pieces from doing this today and yesterday, I just put anything that may be worth listening to whilst I am revising, which probably isn't the best idea as I just get distracted, ah well.

[MrsB]

I've also found Youtube very helpful for browsing for music. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[JamesK]

If you like your period music, graded syllabi are a great way to aquire new repertiore. There are many hidden gems, especially in the lower grades (under grade 6).

[Seer_Green]

YouTube is very good, particularly if you 'Favourite' or 'Like' music you enjoy. Its recommendations are surprisingly accurate. Equally, if you order from Amazon, it will also make recommendations - these will be all the better if you 'Like' the thinks you buy too. I've discovered many wonderful things over the years which have been recommended on Amazon.

There's all the usual things too - go to concerts, listen to the radio, talk to other players etc.

[sbhoa]

It's only recently that I've considered playing things that I've heard and mostly it's things that people I know have played. I always shied away from well known pieces and usually I would think that though I liked something it sounded much too difficult for me to contemplate.
I find a fair amount of new repertoire through browsing in a music shop and buying things that I think look interesting. Sometimes I find something I really like and sometimes not but it's fun to find stuff that everybody else is not playing.

[VH2]

New repertoire comes from many places. Now and again a friend will recommend something worthwhile. Sometimes something you hear (on CD, radio, at a concert ... and YouTube or Spotify) takes your fancy. Occasionally a piece a student brings is new, and worth learning. But usually, for me, new repertoire is a result of browsing (sight reading) through piles and piles of scores (bought, free-downloads, borrowed from library or friends) and deliberately looking at unknown or little known composers as well as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and the other big names.

[barry-clari]

Youtube, live gigs, Spotify, checking out compositions by composers you know you like...the choices are endless (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)