Viola in music Blog

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Viola bibliography

Discover more about the viola, composers and the music in general through this viola bibliography

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New viola book

Check this page, I've added a new viola book, by the virtuoso viola player Michael Kugel, on Shostakovich Sonata for viola and piano and Bartok Concerto for viola and orchestra.

For all those who love these works, or those who find them a bit mysterious or those who never heard of them. Worth reading.

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The Sinfonia Concertante

What is a Sinfonia Concertante? Anything to do with multiple concerto? Read about these nice works and the composers who wrote them and its relation with the viola

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2012

Hello,
for the new year 2012 I wish you all the best in all your endeavours and I send you a sort of little reminder, watch and enjoy this

Monica

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Another great gift idea for viola and violin players

Hello viola lover,
since viola and violin players are, in a way, like brother and sister or cousins, (heard of love/hate?) and some violin players play the viola too (although many attempt to...) or eventually switch to the viola when they really see the viola's true value, I thought I could recommend you, for yourself or for a friend (hear, hear!!!) a violin music package, with music not only for violin but also a lot of chamber music with viola and many other instruments. See the whole repertoire here and search for viola.

It would be the perfect Christmas present for players of all levels, with music to play for years to come. It includes:

• Four computer DVDs (for Mac or PC) with high quality digital sheet music violin repertoire in PDF file format together with MIDI, Mp3 audio files as well as exclusive Mp3 accompaniment files (over 30 GB of data on 4 DVDs).
• A printed copy of Basics of Violin Playing book.
• A printed copy of Very Easy Collection for violin solo (for beginner players).
• A printed copy of the Allegro by Fiocco for violin and piano (for intermediate players).
• A printed copy of the Meditation from Thais by Massenet for violin and piano (for advanced players).
• A printed copy of the famous Violin Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn for violin and piano (for advanced players).
• Life time musical support from the friendly Virtual Sheet Music staff and from M° Fabrizio Ferrari.

Click for more info

More Christmas Carols Mp3 files to download on your iPod (and more Christmas music), with downloadable sheet music, for 2 violas, viola and other instruments

Christmas Carols Mp3 files, for viola and other instruments, with downloadable sheet music, for you to play during Christmas time

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Music gift ideas for a musician or a music lover

Need an original, great idea for a music gift? Find here the perfect music gift ideas for a musician or a music lover

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Romance for viola and orchestra, by Max Bruch

You'll love the Romance for viola and orchestra by Max Bruch, read about it here. Get your FREE viola and piano part

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Halloween music. Famous scary classical music, MP3, MIDI, printable and printed sheet music, for viola and all instruments

Here you'll find Halloween music for your scary night party, play a quartet with invited ghosts, impress your friends and have a lot of fun!

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Nino Rota: famous film music composer and the viola

Nino Rota wrote music for viola, did you know? Discover these great works, in addition to his famous film music

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Brandenburg Concerto 6 and the viola

Read about Bach's Brandenburg Concerto 6 and the most unusual, unique group of instruments in all the Brandenburg Concertos. Free MIDI file.

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Music posters, up to 30% OFF!

Ever thought of beautiful music posters for your home or somewher else? Now you can choose among all music posters and other posters and get a nice 20-30% discount with this special code.

Keep reading to find out

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Viola orchestral parts, new volumes added!

Finally, here you have the viola orchestral parts you need, for practice, auditions, rehearsals

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Viola orchestral parts, 20% OFF!

Take advantage of this summer sale: all the viola orchestral parts you need, for practice, auditions, rehearsals. On CD ROM, so you only print those you need when you need them.

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Orchestral jobs and orchestral auditions for viola (and other instruments)

Find here information on orchestral jobs and orchestral auditions for viola, where to find them, what to play, solos, concertos

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Michael Kugel, virtuoso viola player

Read about one of the best viola players, virtuoso violist Michael Kugel and listen to him playing

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Viola sheet music: what you can find and where to find it

Viola sheet music: some exclusive solo pieces, list of viola concertos, orchestral parts, viola, sonatas, free sheet music

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The "Chord viola"

Here we start publishing also articles by website readers. The first one is about the "Chord viola". Find out what it is. If have a viola related article you wish to publish, get in touch.

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"The King's speech" and music making

I've seen The King's speech! Nothing special abut this, maybe you too have seen it, like a lot of other people. I enjoyed it so much that I went to see it four times! (really unusual for me).

What I loved is how they depict the personal story of a powerful man who, despite all his power, cannot express himself because he is trapped by physical blockages and fears. It was very interesting to see how the speech therapist works on the physical, mental and social aspects of the king's problems and fears. He introduces movement to create a "flow" for the words, exercises for control and coordination.

In the king I saw the average classical music violin and viola performer, in situations where he is exposed to other people's judgement, facing the threatening audience, with the musical power trapped by physical tensions and stage fright, with insecurities about his ability to perform certain passages, fears of always having to be good, never being allowed to make mistakes, always very serious about the whole matter.

The king is allowed, even urged to say things one is "not supposed to say", the therapist makes the situation, their relationship, not so serious, letting the king do things he was "not supposed to do", going back the king's fears since he was a child. Eventually the king regains his confidence and is able to speak with ease and express himself (and is happier).

This is very similar to Kato Havas's New Approach: eliminating physical tensions, creating a continuous flow through the rhythmic pulse, enjoying playing, without focusing on the mistakes, not being serious about it. With the New Approach, it's possible to regain one's musical speech, play with more ease and really enjoy playing even a solo.

Whether you have already done it or not, I recommend you to watch the short videos of the New Approach workshop and the film "The King's speech".

Then, if you want go further, you can read the books "Stage fright" and "A New Approach" and watch the teaching DVD.

I wish you to enjoy both the videos and the film (also there is very good music in it).

Best wishes

Monica

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Valentine music. Famous romantic classical music, Mp3, MIDI and printable sheet music to download, for viola and all instruments

Here you'll find Valentine music for your romantic night party, to impress your partner!

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Buy Viola music: BARGAINS: HALF PRICE, as low as £0.80 viola sheet music

Buy viola music, sheet music at bargain prices for a short time. For yourself or as a music gift

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Free classical music MIDI download and Mp3 files, viola and all instruments

You'll find free classical music MIDI download, and Mp3 files of some of the works for or with viola (and other instruments), or with interesting viola parts

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Viola strings

Viola strings, what is best? Gut, metal or synthetic? Read here differences, pro and cons, tips

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Valentine sheet music. Famous romantic classical music, printed sheet music, for viola and all instruments

Here you'll find Valentine sheet music for your romantic night party, gig, to impress your love!

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Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra, a short viola work for a special occasion

Trauermusik is a short, moving work for viola and string orchestra by Paul Hindemith, written in six hours for a King. Listen to its performance, and discover more

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Viola store

Here's your viola store: find your favourite viola music, book, CD, DVD, accessories, gifts ideas for musicians and music lovers, all in one place

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Viola concerts around the world

Find here some viola concerts around the world, to hear beautiful viola music live. Add your own concert too!

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Read about Kato Havas and New Approach on the causes and cures of physical injuries in VIOLA (and violin) playing

Kato Havas is a very special teacher. From her you can learn not only how to prevent and eliminate physical injuries and stage fright, but to really learn how to use music to communicate

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20% off Music Minus One for viola (actually, without it...)

20% off! Music Minus One is a great way to practice your concertos and chamber music pieces. Find works for viola without it!

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Christmas sheet music for viola with other instruments

Find here all Christmas sheet music you need, many collections to play solo, as a duo, trio, quartet, orchestra, play-along CD, viola sheet music popular songs.

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Christmas Carols free MIDI files, for all instruments, with sheet music

Here you can find a lot of Christmas Carols free MIDI files to download for viola with piano, violin, cello, string trio, quartet etc., with sheet music to download

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Differences between Violin and Viola

Find out what are all those little things that make all the differences between violin and viola tone and character, hear it

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Recordings, which ones are the best?

Read about recordings, how are they made, how this affects quality and live performances

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How to play the viola: videos, tips

Whether you want to learn how to play the viola switching from violin or not, read here how to have a nice tone from the beginning, make it easier, have less stress, more fun! (it applies to little brother violin, too) Save yourself months of horrible sounds, years of stress, phisical injuries, dull playing. Enjoy it!

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Biography of Hector Berlioz, his music and the viola

From the biography of Hector Berlioz, find out what he thought of the viola, the music he wrote and played

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Music Publishers and music for viola

Music Publishers, read here the difference beteween them and the music for viola tyhey publish. A bit of history and curious facts

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Schirmer Editions and works for viola

Schirmer Editions: short history of this important American music publisher and works for viola

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Baerenreiter Editions and music for viola

Baerenreiter Editions: short history of this important German music publisher and their works for viola

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Viola fingering

Learn about the viola fingering, to make a great tone. Another difference between violin and viola

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Antonin Dvorak, his music and the viola

From the biography of Antonin Dvorak, find out what he thought of the viola, the music he wrote and played

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Nicolò Paganini, his music and the viola

From the biography of Nicolo Paganini, find out what he thought of the viola, the music he wrote and played, listen to it

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Brandenburg Concerto 3 and the viola

Read about Bach's Brandenburg Concerto 3 and its unusual group of instruments. Download FREE sheet music, MP3, MIDI file. Listen to it and play it.

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Stamitz Viola concerto

Read and listen to Carl Stamitz viola concerto, a lovely piece, one of the best known concertos for viola. Listen to the whole work. Sheet music, CDs & more

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Music publishers: which one is best?

There are so many music publishers that one often wonders which one is the best one, how to choose among them? Well, I don't think there is a "number one", they are all different, with their own tradition and specialisation, which one to choose depends on what you are looking for.

Also musical education was very important to Schirmer and they persuaded notable composers to write operatic works for school and community performance. The list of American and other contemporary composers whose works are now published by Schirmer include Elliott Carter, Henry Cowell, Roy Harris, Charles Ives, Walter Piston, William Schuman, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Morton Gould, Gian Carlo Menotti, to name but a few.

Schirmer editions for viola include works by J. S. Bach, Franz Schubert, Henri Vieuxtemps, Ernest Bloch, Dmitri Shostakovich, Aram Khachaturian, Sofia Gubaidulina and many more composers, collections of solos for viola and piano of various genres and difficulty, as well as scales and studies books.

Another interesting characteristic of Schirmer editions is the series "The Great Performer's edition".

These are works edited and sometimes arranged by great performers such as the violinists Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Ruggiero Ricci, the cellist Janos Starker, the flute player James Galway, the french horn player Barry Tuckwell, the pianist Arthur Rubinstein and (of interest to us) the violist William Primrose. In these editions, one can see fingerings, perfomance suggestions and even ornamentation by these great players.

Although someone may find these editions a bit dated, I find them very useful for the reason mentioned. For viola, Primrose edited works like Brahms 1st sonata, Bach Suites, Telemann and Stamitz concertos, a collection of his own transcription of virtuoso pieces, "The Virtuoso Violist" and, my favourite one, the Aria (Cantilena) by Heitor Villa-Lobos, from Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5, arranged for viola and piano by William Primrose, from the original version for eight cellos. You can listen to a sample of this charming work, click on the picture on the right side.

Now you can have your Schirmer editions and enjoy beautiful viola music at a 20% discount, until 29 September, hurry up!

Click for more info

The Best Viola Books

If you want to know the viola, this beautiful instrument, here are the best viola books, about viola history, viola repertoire, viola playing, viola players biographies and some viola related books.

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Free ecards with music, brand new page! Come visit and send greetings to your friends

Send your friends free ecards with music, that have to do with the gorgeous viola, so something really special!

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Subscribe to Viola News! and get a wonderful FREE recording

Subscribe to Viola News to receive your gift and exclusive articles and offers

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Eyeglasses duo for viola and cello, by Beethoven

Read the story of the funny name of the eyeglasses duo by Beethoven for viola and cello. Listen toit, download free MIDI file and more

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Maxim Vengerov and the viola

Read about the world famous violin player Maxim Vengerov and his new love: the viola

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