I need some recomendations for Viola Solos

Sorry if this is not the right forum...

I would like a few suggestions for Viola solo (it can be transcribed from another instrument, but originally for viola would be nice). It can be accompanied by piano.

My skill level is about at the Prelude to Cello Suite No. 1 by Bach (easier or slightly harder is fine). The solos are supposed to represent different time periods and what not, and I already have the Baroque covered (it's going to be recorded as part of a academic program I'm in).

Thanks everyone.

I don't think that you will be able to play Mendelssohn's Voila Concerto, will you...?

That's the only thing I know. :)

Thank you for the suggestion, I will look into it. Though Mendelssohn is probably out of my league.

Are there any others? It can be transcribed.

oh god mendelssohn thou art a heartless scallop.

I know that applies to his piano concerto but I don't know jack about his viola concerto. As far as viola repertoire goes the only piece I'm familiar is the infamous Berio Sequenza (VI) which I think has been hailed as impossible. If you can, get your hands on a recording on Christophe Desjardin's recording, it's something out of this world.

Apparently Hindemith was a virtuoso of the instrument (according to wiki) so therein lies another option, although I will warn you, it could make him the paganini of viola.

A few good composers for Violists are Telemann, Hindemith, Rebecca Clarke.. I think Elgar 'cello concerti have been transcribed...

That's all I can think of!

Good luck!

I really like Stravinsky's "El

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will be sure to check them out. I am sure they are all beautiful pieces (the only catch is I need to be able to play them :P).

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will be sure to check them out. I am sure they are all beautiful pieces (the only catch is I need to be able to play them :P).

Godspeed sir. Mind you the berio sequenza is viciously difficult, ugly as hell and good to play/listen to when you are mad, because you will know you will never be as pissed as Desjardins when he was given the piece to learn and play it :-P

Other people have most of it covered... I'd also suggest the Vieuxtemps viola sonata. I would also stay the hell away from Berlioz's Harold in Italy.

If you're not limited to viola solos, Bruch wrote a set of short pieces for viola, clarinet, and piano...

I'm a saxophonist, so I'm not too familiar with the viola, but I know a couple of more modern viola pieces - The Penderecki concerto is very difficult (or so I hear), and he also wrote a cadenza for solo viola. I own a recording of the clarinet version of the concerto and I quite enjoy it. Paul Creston (whose music is a bit more accessible than Penderecki's) wrote a couple of pieces for viola - Suite for viola and piano, and homage for viola or cello and piano. There's also the Pettersson viola concerto which is not only difficult but rather difficult to comprehend - but if that's your sort of music it's quite a good piece.

And if you're ok with viewing scorch here's a piece that's been fairly popular on sibeliusmusic.com.

Two Pieces for Viola and Piano - 1. Adagio Soave

Two Pieces for Viola and Piano - 2. Sherzo Energico