Seeing as we have a glut of violists on the forum, we've been talking about doing some ad hoc viola ensembles for fun and maybe for performance at the concerts.

Don't know where to put this, so trying Viva Strings to start with, does anyone have any inspiration or requests for pieces that would be good arranged for multiple violas?

Is that the technical term?

No.... its a Bratsche of Violists...Sarah should know that

You could call yourselves "The Violators"...

I can get a piece for at least 4 different viola parts....

I could arrange Handel's Largo or something nice and slow.

Storini: LOL!

IL: half the point is the fun of arranging something.

Boo: that sounds like a good one to do, yes.

Sarah I can arrange as well

What about an arrangement of some folksongs/traditional tunes? They can sound good on violas and there are lots that aren't well known.

Never said you couldn't, IL, and feel free to do so, (if you arrange something for violas we might well play it) but what I am looking for is suggestions for things to arrange, not offers to arrange things or offers of things that are already arranged. Boo is going going to try his hand, I don't know whether he needs inspiration as much as I do though (haven't got the brain to think of things this week)

PV: That's a really good idea, that could sound really lovely Are there any resources you know of for finding the less well known ones? I guess a mixture of well known and less known would be good.

I haven't got any ideas but I'd deffinately be interested in it.

Ok I've started Handel's Largo, for 3 violas and a cello. The two middle lines are a piece of cake, the top line goes a bit high for my liking but I'm sure someone will be able to cope. I've done about 1:20 so far.

I have played a version of the Bach Chaconne for 4 Viola's, but we played it with 14 violists at the Junior Academy, it was quite a sound!!! By Nicoli Ami (?), I think. Not sure whether we are allowed to play it though.

Is copyright a problem if it is just a gathering of friends? I thought it was only when performing to the paying public that copyright became an issue.

I have now finished Handel's Largo scored for 3 violas and a cello. *relief*

Yay!

I haven't even started anything yet

Even a gathering of friends counts as "paying public" if you mean a forum concert.

What about jigs and reels? They can be arranged with varying complexity so you can include a beginner part, and then grow in complexity for the more accomplished?

Ooooh that's a good idea.

Eeek! I have lots of good ideas and no tunes to arrange I need to get my behind in gear.

Sarah, if you just type various combinations of 'traditional' 'english' 'irish' 'welsh' 'scottish' 'tunes' 'sheet music' etc into google you will get loads of sites with pdf versions of tunes that you can use that are copyright-free. I quite liked the ferret publications site as they have some pdf versions of songs first collected by Cecil Sharp over 100 years ago.

I'm looking forward to hearing your arrangements.

Thanks, PV!

Right... guess I'd better start trying to do some arranging then...

I'd love to try some arranging, can anyone give me any tips on how to do this as I've never tried before!

Could we not just all put 50p in the box as a "contribution"? Are there any allowances for concerts with no entrance fee? Any other loopholes (aren't I devious!)?