A weeklong celebration of the exquisite music written for this “inner voice.” The viola is the middle sister of the stringed instruments, sitting between the violins and the cellos, and playing in a clef written just for her. The viola is often misunderstood and mistaken for a “larger violin” or sometimes either forgotten about or made the butt of jokes. But the viola sings with a dark richness that composers loved! Mozart, Brahms, and Dvorak played the viola; Hindemith did too. These composers, plus many more, figured out how to let this instrument have her day in the sun with concertos, tone poems, and orchestral solos. This week, you too will fall in love with the viola.
The Viola
Playlist
Episode 1
Telemann, Georg Philipp: Concerto in G Major for Viola and Orchestra
Musica Antiqua Köln/Goebel; Deuter, viola
String Concertos
Archiv 463074
10:49
Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto in d minor, RV. 540, II & III
Academy of Ancient Music/Manze; Jones, viola d’amore; North, lute
Concert For The Prince Of Poland
HM 907230
6:47
Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto in d minor, RV. 540, II.
Academy of Ancient Music/Manze; Jones, viola d’amore; North, lute
Concert For The Prince Of Poland
HM 907230
0:56 (excerpt)
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, II.
European Brandenburg Ensemble/Pinnock
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos – Pinnock, European Brandenburg Ensemble
Avie 2119
4:28
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, II.
Barge Music
Brandenburg From the Barge
Koch 7294
5:20
Stamitz, Carl Philipp: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in D Major, III.
Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn/Faerber; Wallfisch, viola
Music From Prague Vol 1 – Music By Dvorák, Dusek, Et Al
Vox 5148
4:27
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364, I. Allegro maestoso
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Mutter; Mutter, violin; Bashmet, viola
The Violin Concertos / Sinfonía Concertante
DG B0005078-02
12:33
von Dittersdorf, Carl Ditters: Menuetto II from Sonata for Viola and Double Bass
Chang, viola; Fuller, double bass
Duets
Musical Arts Society 41592
2:26
von Dittersdorf, Carl Ditters: Menuetto II from Sonata for Viola and Double Bass
Chang, viola; Fuller, double bass
Duets
Musical Arts Society 41592
1:13
Episode 2
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364, II. Andante, III. Pesto
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Mutter; Mutter, violin; Bashmet, viola
The Violin Concertos / Sinfonía Concertante
DG B0005078-02
17:42
Mendelssohn, Felix: Sonata for Viola and Piano in C minor
II. Minuetto
Michael Gieler, viola; Lauretta Bloomer, piano
Hummel – Joachim – Mendelssohn
Q 97002
6:29
Weber, Carl Maria von: Andante and Rondo Ungarese for Viola
and Orchestra in C minor, J 79
Solistes de Moscou-Montpellier Chamber Orchestra/Caussé; Caussé, viola
Viola Concertos – Hummel, Weber, Hoffmeister, J. Schubert / Causse
Warner Classics 942376
9:14
Paganini, Niccolò: Terzetto concertante for viola, cello and guitar in D Major, II. Adagio
R. Diaz, viola; A. Diaz, violoncello; Grey, guitar
Music for Strings & Guitar
Dorian 90237
4:56
Berlioz, Hector: Harold in Italy, Op. 16 (excerpt)
Nat’l Orchestra of France/Bernstein; McInnes, viola
Berlioz: Harold En Italie, Ouvertures / Bernstein, Previn
EMI 64745
6:46
Guastavino, Carlos: La Rosa y El Sauce
Kashkashian, viola; Levin, piano
Asturiana: Songs From Spain And Argentina
ECM 1975
2:15
Episode 3
Berlioz, Hector: Harold in Italy (excerpt)
Nat’l Orchestra of France/Bernstein; McInnes, viola
Berlioz: Harold En Italie, Ouvertures / Bernstein, Previn
EMI 64745
0:39
Brahms, Johannes: String Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major
II. Andante
Pasquier Trio and Friends; Pasquier, viola
Sextuor No. 1 Op. 18
HM 1951073
10:17; 0:42
Brahms, Johannes: “Gestillte Sehnsucht” from Songs for Alto, Viola & Piano, Op. 91, No. 1
Ferrier, alto; Gilbert, viola; Spurr, piano
Kathleen Ferrier Edition Vol. 10 – Brahms, Mahler
London 433477
5:11
Brahms, Johannes: Sonata in F minor for Viola and Piano, Op. 120 No. 1, III.
Tertis, viola; Cohen, piano
Lionel Tertis – The Complete Columbia Recordings 1924-1933
Pearl 9918
4:17
Brahms, Johannes: Sonata in E-flat Major for Viola and Piano, Op. 120
No. 2, I.
Kashkashian, viola.; Levin, piano
Brahms: Sonaten für Viola und Klavier / Kashkashian, Levin
ECM 457068
8:28
Bruch, Max: Concerto in e minor for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra, I.
London Symphony Orchestra/Francis; King, clarinet; Imai, viola
The Clarinet In Concert – Bruch, Et Al / Thea King
Hyperion 66022
7:31
Joachim, Joseph: Hebrew Melodies, Op. 9, I.
Gieler, viola; Bloomer, piano
Sonatas for Viola and Piano/Hebrew Melodies
Radio Netherlands 93008
3:56
Brahms, Johannes: “Geistliches Wiegenlied” from Songs for Alto,
Viola & Piano, Op. 91, No. 2
Norman, alto.; Christ, viola.; Barenboim, piano
Lieder: Spanisches Lied • Mädchenlied • Ophelia-Lieder • Gestillte Sehnsucht • Geistliches Wiegenlied
DG 413 787-1
6:10
Kreisler, Fritz: Schön Rosmarin, Op. 55 No. 4
Imai, viola; Pöntinen, piano
Viola Bouquet
Phil 446103
1:56
Episode 4
Bloch, Ernest: Suite Hébraïque, No. 1 – Rhapsodie
Imai, viola; Pontinen, piano
Viola Bouquet
Philips 446103
6:46
Debussy, Claude: Trio for Viola, Flute, and Harp
Wilson, flute; Neubauer, viola; Allen, harp
The Complete Chamber Music of Claude Debussy
Delos 3167
16:36
Williams, Ralph Vaughn: Flos Campi
Bournemouth Sinfonietta and Choir/Mar; Riddle, viola
Vaughan Williams
Chandos 6545
20:57
de Falla, Manuel: Suite Populaire Espagnole (excerpts)
Dreyfus, viola; McDonald, piano
Romanze / Karen Dreyfus, Robert McDonald
Bridge 9016
3:38
de Falla, Manuel: Suite Populaire Espagnole (excerpts)
Dreyfus, viola; McDonald, piano
Romanze / Karen Dreyfus, Robert McDonald
Bridge 9016
2:16
Episode 5
Hindemith, Paul: Der Schwanendreher, III.
San Francisco Symphony/Blomstedt; Walther, viola
Hindemith: Orchestral Works
Decca 000201102
9:12
Bartók, Béla: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (excerpt)
Budapest Symphony/Ligeti; Golani, viola
Bartók/Serly: Viola Concertos / Viola Rhapsody / Hungarian Peasant Songs / 3 Rondos
Conifer 189
10:35
Walton, William: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, I. II.
Royal Phil/Previn; Kennedy, viola
Walton: Violin & Viola Concertos; Vaughan Williams / Nigel Kennedy
EMI 749628
13:07
Clarke, Rebecca: Sonata for Viola and Piano, I.
Westphal, viola; Swann, piano
Viola Sonatas
Bridge 9109
7:41
Feldman, Morton: The Viola in My Life, Part III. (excerpt)
Phillips, viola; Tudor, piano
The Viola in My Life
New World 80657
2:36
Townshend, Pete: “Baba O’Riley” (excerpt)
The Who
Who’s Next
Decca DL 79182
1:21
Traditional: “Man of Constant Sorrow” (excerpt)
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Rounder
1:07
Grainger, Percy: The Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol
Coletti, viola; Howard, piano
English Music For Viola / Paul Coletti, Leslie Howard
Hyperion 666687
3:43