Viola in music Blog

May 16, Stage fright, its causes and cures - Are drugs the only remedy?

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:34:25 GMT

Find out what you can do to overcome stage fright and enjoy more your music playing. Particularly related to string playing, violin and viola, but useful tips for all performers

May 16, Walton Viola Concerto, one of the best modern viola concertos

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:24:29 GMT

Read about Walton Viola Concerto, whom it was composed for, who premiered it, listen to its best performance, and dicover more the concerto and Walton

May 14, Confusion???!!!!

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:53:03 GMT

Apologies for multiple posting today and in an endangered language, little known to most people (although musicians do know a few words of it). In case anyone wonders, the author has another website and sometimes the pages of the two get mixed up and "mysteriously" appear on the wrong website. However, this may prove providential, so if you ever wondered who is behind this viola website, what this person does when not writing on it, have a look.

May 14, Read about Kato Havas and New Approach on the causes and cures of physical injuries in VIOLA (and violin) playing

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:54:38 GMT

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

May 14, Scordatura: what is it? See a great example on the viola

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:16:43 GMT

Learn about the scordatura, or mistuning, a clever trick composers used for viola and other string instruments to improve their sonority and make performers' lives easier

May 14, Viola Tuning

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:15:25 GMT

Find out about the difference in viola tuning and other tunings used by composers

May 13, Famous viola players

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:11:30 GMT

Learn about the famous viola players who turned the viola into a solo, virtuoso instrument

May 11, Viola Concertos from A to Z, or the Concerto form and the viola

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:49:50 GMT

Viola Concertos: are there any? Baroque, classical, modern? Who wrote them? Where can you find them? Discover it here

May 9, Music Minus One, play along for viola (actually, without it...)

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:58:01 GMT

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

May 7, Viola strings, what are they? Useful information, characteristics, how they are made

Mon, 07 May 2012 23:45:51 GMT

Viola strings, what is best? Gut, metal or synthetic? Differences, pros and cons, tips, match strings to your viola

May 7, What's the right viola size for you? How to find out

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:18:13 GMT

Learn about the viola size, compared to violin size, how it was in the past and how to choose the right size for you

May 7, Telemann viola concerto

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:04:43 GMT

Read about the first even written viola concerto: Telemann viola concerto, a lovely work, very enjoyable to listen to and perform

May 6, David Oistrakh and the viola

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:05:52 GMT

David Oistrakh: one more famous violin player who played viola! Read about him and watch him play Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violino viola and orchestra with his son Igor, conducted by Menuhin

May 4, Eyeglasses duo for viola and cello, by Beethoven

Fri, 04 May 2012 17:30:32 GMT

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

May 4, Musical score, what is it?

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:59:23 GMT

Read what a score is in musical terms, see an interesting example related to a wonderful viola work

May 3, Schirmer Editions and works for viola

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:45:35 GMT

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

May 2, Viola sheet music: what you can find and where to find it

Wed, 02 May 2012 02:32:21 GMT

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

May 1, Brandenburg Concerto 3 and the viola

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:25:00 GMT

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.

Apr 30, Michael Kugel, virtuoso viola player

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:28:11 GMT

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

Apr 28, Viola bibliography

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:00:38 GMT

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

Apr 27, Vivaldi Viola Concerto: does it exist?

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:31:03 GMT

Looking for Vivaldi Viola Concerto? Did he write any? Find it out here

Apr 26, Baerenreiter Editions and music for viola

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:07:19 GMT

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

Apr 25, Henry Vieuxtemps, his music and the viola

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:51:00 GMT

Read about Henry Vieuxtemps, the famous violin player who also played viola and wrote for it, listen to his music

Apr 25, Nigel Kennedy and the viola

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:30:20 GMT

Here's another famous violin player who fell under the viola spell. Read about Nigel Kennedy and the viola.

Apr 24, Viola orchestral parts, find them here!

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:06:53 GMT

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

Apr 23, Kegelstatt Trio for clarinet, viola and piano by Mozart

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:16:40 GMT

Read about a beautiful work by Mozart for clarinet, viola and piano: the Kegelstatt Trio K498. Download MIDI file and score to listen to it and play it

Apr 19, Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra, a short viola work for a special occasion

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:20:25 GMT

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

Apr 18, Treatise on instrumentation and orchestration by Hector Berlioz

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:19:46 GMT

Read what Berlioz writes about the viola in his Treatise on instrumentation and orchestration, the first and most important work of this kind.

Apr 18, Biography of Hector Berlioz, his music and the viola

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:16:17 GMT

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

Apr 17, The Sinfonia Concertante

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:04:53 GMT

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

Apr 16, Recordings, which ones are the best?

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:51:25 GMT

Read about recordings, how are they made, how this affects quality and live performances, historical recordings also with viola

Apr 16, Nino Rota: famous film music composer and the viola

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:20:49 GMT

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

Apr 15, Maxim Vengerov and the viola

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:03:39 GMT

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

Apr 14, Romance for viola and orchestra, by Max Bruch

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:41:10 GMT

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

Apr 13, Ignaz Schuppanzigh and the viola

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:05:32 GMT

Learn about Ignaz Schuppanzigh, famous violin player in Beethoven's time, his friend and quartet player

Jan 17, New viola book

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:55:08 GMT

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.

Jan 1, 2012

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:20:33 GMT

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

Dec 13, Another great gift idea for viola and violin players

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:28:48 GMT

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.

Of course, on their website there is also a lot of viola music, listed on this website as well. So, why not have a look? I'm sure you'll find something for you. Best wishes.

Dec 2, 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

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:10:51 GMT

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

Nov 27, Music gift ideas for a musician or a music lover

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:53:53 GMT

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

Oct 23, Halloween music. Famous scary classical music, MP3, MIDI, printable and printed sheet music, for viola and all instruments

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:45:04 GMT

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!

Aug 1, Brandenburg Concerto 6 and the viola

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:01:09 GMT

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

Jul 24, Music posters, up to 30% OFF!

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:44:16 GMT

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

Jul 18, Viola orchestral parts, 20% OFF!

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:23:20 GMT

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.

Jul 18, Orchestral jobs and orchestral auditions for viola (and other instruments)

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:16:55 GMT

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

Apr 24, The "Chord viola"

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:12:31 GMT

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.

Feb 28, "The King's speech" and music making

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:06:32 GMT

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

Feb 13, Valentine music. Famous romantic classical music, Mp3, MIDI and printable sheet music to download, for viola and all instruments

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:40:09 GMT

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

Feb 3, Buy Viola music: BARGAINS: HALF PRICE, as low as £0.80 viola sheet music

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:30:10 GMT

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

Jan 24, Free classical music MIDI download and Mp3 files, viola and all instruments

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:51:53 GMT

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