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All Things Viola

by Charles Krigbaum


Unique Qualities of the Viola

Composers Who Played the Viola

    Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfang Amadeus Mozart.
    Numerous other composers also chose to play the viola in ensembles,
    including: Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Antonín Dvorák, and Benjamin Britten.
    Among those noted both as violists and as composers are Rebecca Clarke and Paul Hindemith

My Top Ten Favorite Viola Pieces

  1. Franz Schubert, Arpeggione Sonata
  2. Johannes Brahms, Sonatas in Eb major and f minor
  3. Reboecca Clarke, Sonata
  4. Georges Enesco, Concertpiece
  5. George Phillip Telemann, Concerto in G major
  6. Johann Sebastian Bach, Suite No. 1 in G major
  7. Henri Viextemps, Sonata in Bb major
  8. Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Fantasy for Viola Op. 94
  9. Robert Schumann, Marchenbilder Op. 113 (Fairy Tales)
  10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola

Top Three Viola Concerti

    William Walton, Concerto
    Béla Bartók, Concerto
    Paul Hindemith, der Schwanendreher

Famous Violists of Today

    Lawrence Power, Atar Arad, Pauld Doctor, Karen Ritscher, Peter Slowick, Jefrey Irvine, Barbara Westphal, Paul Coletti,
    Michael Tree, Scott Slapin, Roberto Diaz, Michael Kugel, Kim Kashkashian, Nobuko Imnai, Rivka Golani,
    Tabea Zimmermann, Paul Neubauer and Uri Bashmet

Famous Violists of the Past

    Lionel Tertis, William Primrose, Emmanuel Vardi, Gerard Causse, Rivka Golani, Simonide Bracconi, Simon Rowland-Johnes,
    Paul Hindermith, Lillian Fuchs, Walter Trampler

Famous Viola Teachers

    Heidi Castelmann, Karen Tuttle

Famous Violinists Who Also Perform on the Viola

    Pinchas Zukermann, David Oistrakh, Eugène Ysaÿe, Yehudi Menuhin, Maxim Vengerov, and Nigel Kennedy