I'm trying to find some new viola music to play. I have some music but on the whole it is either too easy(!) or far too hard. I'm looking for something romantic (similar in style to the Dvorak I played at Leicester?) that is not too difficult and that I can fall in love with! I would like to (maybe) be able to play it at Woodford... Does anyone have any suggestions for something suitable?

W

I don't know what they're like for viola, but I recently absolutely fell for the Schumann Romances and I know they have been transcribed for viola...

How about some Satie? I know the Gymnopedie are available for viola.

What piece of Dvorak did you play?

Have you tried the Kalliwoda Nocturnes. You might find them a bit easy but they are quite nice and they were originally written for the viola.

You could also try the Liszt Romance oubliee, Four Pieces by Bridge, the Tchaikovsky Valse Sentimentale, or the Schumann Adagio and Allegro or Romances. I think these go up to about 3rd or 4th position.

If you are looking for something a bit harder (double stops, higher positions) you could try the Faure Elegy, the Glazunov Elegie, Joachim Hebrew Melodies or the Sitt Romance.

I have just fallen in love with the Vieuxtemps Capriccio, but I have only just ordered the music so I don't know how hard it is yet ( but I suspect that it will be a challenge!) .

Indeed, my copy arrived this morning though I havn't tried them yet!


Gymnopedie no. 1 is downloadable for free off the net for viola and piano, can't remember where, sorry.

Can you try to memories where they are...because I want them too...

Here!

Suite hébraïque by Bloch

Ooooh!

Not that I could play it, but listening to the snippets on itunes.... niiiiiiiiiiiiice!

If Sarah couldn't play it, there would be no chance for me...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Any others gratefully received...

PV - there are certainly some there that I'd like to investigate. I played a transcription of the first of Dvorak's Romantic Pieces (violin) at Leicester and that was about my level.
Sarah - the Schumann sounds lovely - is that what you and YAP were trying out after the concert? I think I'd be too embarrassed to try it in public in front of people who know it...

W

Awww when I've seen you play it's been lovely and I've really enjoyed it!

Yes, those is them... - they're gorgeous! As I say, I have no idea how difficult they would be on viola, but certainly worth looking into - even if you decide not to play them in a concert. They're lovely

I'm a bit of a coward when it comes to string repertoire - I tend to assume that I can't play stuff!

The Schumann Romances arranged for viola are about grade 6 standard.

The Bloch Suite Hebraique is diploma level for the first movement (it goes up very high with quadruple stopping ), the second movement is about grade 8 standard (lots of double, triple and quadruple stopping), the third movement is a bit easier.

Other romantic pieces at about the level of the Dvorak that you might want to have a look at are:

Albeniz, L'Automne;
Glazunov, Three Pieces
Davidoff, Romanze
Ilyinsky-Forbes, Berceuse
Kreisler, Sicilienne & Rigaudon
Rebikoff-Forbes, Berceuse & Danse
Saint-Saens, The Swan
Sitt, Album Leaves, Barcarole and Drei Fantasiestücke
Skryabin, Prélude
Tchaikovsky, Valse Sentimentale
Vierne, Deux Pièces

Mine arrived this morning and there is loads of treble clef up in the high positions. An investment for the future definitely!

Boo, thanks for posting that. So chuffed, I had a bash at the first page on my viola, and could play it - mostly in tune!! Maybe it's time to retire abracadabr viola.... Or maybe not... .

Eeeek!
W

Don't worry too much Willobie, my definition of 'high positions' is anything above first!

So is mine...
I've ordered them - plus one or two others from Purple Viola's wonderful list! I'm hoping to get to a music shop in a couple of week to see if I can 'browse' a few more...

W

Well it will be nice having someone else learning them too, we can struggle through them together. To be honest I'm sure I could play the piano part better than the viola part. Oh well, maybe I'll learn both!

Tchaikovsky's Chanson Triste

Do you have the music for that? If so, could you tell me the the starting note of the viola part?
W

The version of Chanson Triste that I have starts on G ( 3rd finger in first position on d string).

I can see myself returning to the list PV's put up (thank you!) - I should get disciplined and quit neglecting my viola...

Well, if you can read cello music and play it on a viola, or alternatively play a viola like a violin

Schumann Fantasiestucke Op.73

Violin, Cello and original Clarinet versions exist for these 3 charming works Very very nice!

Ditto my version.

Thanks - I wondered how it compared to the violin version I used to have. I think it must just be transposed...

W

Boo, how high does the viola version of the Schumann Romances go?

Got my copy today!
They do seem to spend a lot of time in treble clef... I think No2 goes up to a rather scary 6th position (C# a 10th above the A string) but the others 'only' go up to 4th.

W

OK... I'm just trying to work out, really, whether they have been transcribed or transposed or what for viola. Are they all in the original keys? (Amin for 1 & 3, Amaj for the middle one?)

I think I need to invest in a copy at some point!!

Thanks Willobie

Yes, they are all in the original keys. They look a bit hard...

W

Thanks Willobie.

& I find most music for violin or viola looks hard to me

Then think what its like for me.