This article lists notable compositions within the viola repertoire. The list includes works in which the viola is a featured instrument (i.e., viola solos, concertos, viola and piano duos, etc.). The list is ordered by composer

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

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Julia Adolphe Julia Adolphe (born May 16, 1988 in New York City) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. Her works include choral, orchestral, operatic, chamber and art song pieces. Her initial mainstream recognition was in November 2016 at th ...

(born 1988) :: ''

Unearth, Release ''Unearth, Release'' is a viola concerto by the American composer Julia Adolphe. The work was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras and the New York Philharmonic with support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. It was first perfor ...

'' (2016) *

Kurt Atterberg Kurt Magnus Atterberg (, 12 December 188715 February 1974) was a Swedish composer and engineer. He is best known for his symphonies, operas, and ballets. Biography Atterberg was born in Gothenburg. His father was Anders Johan Atterberg, engineer ...

(1887–1974) :: Sonata in B minor for cello (or violin, or viola, or horn) and piano, Op. 27 (1925)

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Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

(1685–1750) :: ''Brandenburg Concerto'' No. 6 in B-flat major,

BWV The (BWV; ; ) is a catalogue of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was first published in 1950, edited by Wolfgang Schmieder. The catalogue's second edition appeared in 1990. An abbreviated version of that second edition, known as BWV2a ...

1051 (1721) *

Béla Bartók Béla Viktor János Bartók (; ; 25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century; he and Franz Liszt are regarded as H ...

(1881–1945) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra in A minor, Sz. 120, BB128 (1945); completed in 1949 by

Tibor Serly Tibor Serly (; Losonc, Kingdom of Hungary, 25 November 1901 – London, 8 October 1978) was a Hungarian violist, violinist, and composer. Serly was the son of Lajos Serly, a pupil of Franz Liszt and a composer of songs and operettas in the ...

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...

(1770–1827) :: ''Serenade'' in D major for flute, violin and viola, Op. 25 (1795) *

Luciano Berio Luciano Berio (24 October 1925 – 27 May 2003) was an Italian composer noted for his experimental work (in particular his 1968 composition ''Sinfonia'' and his series of virtuosic solo pieces titled ''Sequenza''), and for his pioneering work ...

(1925–2003) :: ''

Sequenza VI ''Sequenza VI'' is a composition for solo viola by Luciano Berio, part of his series of fourteen '' Sequenze''. History ''Sequenza VI'' was written in 1967 for Serge Collot, to whom the score is dedicated. It also forms the core of two other Berio ...

'' for solo viola (1967) *

Hector Berlioz In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

(1803–1869) :: ''

Harold en Italie ''Harold en Italie,'' ''symphonie avec un alto principal'' (English: ''Harold in Italy,'' ''symphony with viola obbligato''), as the manuscript calls and describes it, is a four-movement orchestral work by Hector Berlioz, his Opus 16, H. 68, w ...

'', symphony for orchestra with viola obbligato, Op. 16, H. 68 (1834) *

Ernest Bloch Ernest Bloch (July 24, 1880 – July 15, 1959) was a Swiss-born American composer. Bloch was a preeminent artist in his day, and left a lasting legacy. He is recognized as one of the greatest Swiss composers in history. As well as producing music ...

(1880–1959) :: '' Suite Hébraïque'' for viola and piano or orchestra (1951) *

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...

(1833–1897) :: Sonata No. 1 in F minor for viola and piano, Op. 120 No. 1 (1894) :: Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major for viola and piano, Op. 120 No. 2 (1894) ::

Two Songs for voice, viola and piano Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano, Op. 91, were composed by Johannes Brahms for his friends Joseph Joachim and his wife Amalie. The full title is ''Zwei Gesänge für eine Altstimme mit Bratsche und Klavier'' (Two songs for an alto voice ...

, Op. 91 (1884) *

Max Bruch Max Bruch (6 January 1838 – 2 October 1920) was a German Romantic composer, violinist, teacher, and conductor who wrote more than 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a prominent staple of the standard v ...

(1838–1920) ::

Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra The Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 88, by Max Bruch was composed in 1911 for his son, Max Felix Bruch, and received its first performance in 1912, with Willy Hess (viola) and the composer's son Max Felix Bruch (clarine ...

, Op. 88 (1911)

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* Rebecca Clarke (1886–1979) :: ''

Morpheus Morpheus ('Fashioner', derived from the grc, μορφή meaning 'form, shape') is a god associated with sleep and dreams. In Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'' he is the son of Somnus and appears in dreams in human form. From the Middle Ages, the name b ...

'' for viola and piano (1917) :: Sonata for viola and piano (1919)

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Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

(1862–1918) :: Sonata for flute, viola and harp, L. 137 (1915)

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Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

(1857–1934) :: '' Canto Popolare'' for viola and piano (1904)

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Morton Gould Morton Gould (December 10, 1913February 21, 1996) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist. Biography Morton Gould was born in Richmond Hill, New York, United States. He was recognized early as a child prodigy with abilities ...

(1913–1996) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (1943)

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Jennifer Higdon Jennifer Elaine Higdon (born December 31, 1962) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. She has received many awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her Violin Concerto and three Grammy Award for Best Contempora ...

(b. 1962) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (2015) *

Paul Hindemith Paul Hindemith (; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major advocate of the ''Ne ...

(1895–1963) :: Sonata in F for viola and piano, Op. 11 No. 4 (1919) :: ''Kammermusik'' No. 5 for viola and chamber orchestra, Op. 36 No. 4 (1927) :: ''

Der Schwanendreher Paul Hindemith's ''Der Schwanendreher'' (literally, "The Swan Turner") is a concerto for viola and orchestra. ''Der Schwanendreher'' occupies a place at the core of the viola concerto repertoire, along with the concertos by Walton and Bartók. It ...

'' for viola and small orchestra (1935) :: ''

Trauermusik ''Trauermusik'' is a suite (music), suite for viola and string orchestra, written on 21 January 1936 by Paul Hindemith at very short notice in memory of George V, King George V of the United Kingdom, who died the previous night. The title means ...

'' for viola and orchestra (1936)

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Peter Lieberson Peter Goddard Lieberson (25 October 1946 – 23 April 2011) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. His song cycles include two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Music: '' Rilke Songs'' and ''Neruda Songs''; the latter won t ...

(1946–2011) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (1992) *

György Ligeti György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde composers in the latter half of the twentieth century" ...

(1923–2006) ::

Viola sonata The viola sonata is a sonata for viola, sometimes with other instruments, usually piano. The earliest viola sonatas are difficult to date for a number of reasons: *in the Baroque era, there were many works written for the viola da gamba, includin ...

for solo viola (1994)

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James MacMillan Sir James Loy MacMillan, (born 16 July 1959) is a Scottish classical composer and conductor. Early life MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977. His father is James MacMi ...

(b. 1959) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (2013) *

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sy ...

(1809–1847) ::

in C minor, MWV Q 14 (1824) *

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

(1756–1791) ::

Sinfonia Concertante Sinfonia concertante (; also called ''symphonie concertante'') is an orchestral work, normally in several movements, in which one or more solo instruments contrast with the full orchestra.Collins: ''Encyclopedia of Music'', William Collins Sons & C ...

in E-flat major for violin, viola and orchestra, K. 364 (K. 320d) (1779) :: Duo No. 1 in G major for violin and viola, K. 423 (1783) :: Duo No. 2 in B-flat major for violin and viola, K. 424 (1783) :: ''

Kegelstatt Trio The ''Kegelstatt Trio'', K. 498, is a piano trio for clarinet, viola and piano in E-flat major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. History Mozart wrote the piano trio on 10 sheets (19 pages) in Vienna and dated the manuscript on 5 August 1786. Accordin ...

'' in E-flat major for clarinet, viola and piano, K. 498 (1786) *

Nico Muhly Nico Asher Muhly (; born August 26, 1981) is an American contemporary classical music composer and arranger who has worked and recorded with both classical and pop musicians. A prolific composer, he has composed for many notable symphony orchestras ...

(b. 1981) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (2014)

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Walter Piston Walter Hamor Piston, Jr. (January 20, 1894 – November 12, 1976), was an American composer of classical music, music theorist, and professor of music at Harvard University. Life Piston was born in Rockland, Maine at 15 Ocean Street to Walter Ha ...

(1894–1976) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (1957)

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Alfred Schnittke Alfred Garrievich Schnittke (russian: Альфре́д Га́рриевич Шни́тке, link=no, Alfred Garriyevich Shnitke; 24 November 1934 – 3 August 1998) was a Russian composer of Jewish-German descent. Among the most performed and re ...

(1934–1998) :: Concerto for viola and orchestra (1985) *

Robert Schumann Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...

(1810–1856) :: '' Märchenbilder'' for viola and piano, Op. 113 (1851) :: '' Märchenerzählungen'' for clarinet, viola and piano, Op. 132 (1853) *

Dmitri Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throug ...

(1906–1975) :: Sonata for viola and piano, Op. 147 (1975) *

Carl Stamitz Carl Philipp Stamitz ( cs, Karel Stamic; baptized 8 May 17459 November 1801) was a German composer of partial Czech ancestry. He was the most prominent representative of the second generation of the Mannheim School. He was the eldest son of Joh ...

(1745–1801) :: Concerto for viola in D major, Op. 1 (c. 1774)

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Tōru Takemitsu was a Japanese composer and writer on aesthetics and music theory. Largely self-taught, Takemitsu was admired for the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre. He is known for combining elements of oriental and occidental phil ...

(1930–1996) :: '' A String around Autumn'' for viola and orchestra (1989) *

Georg Philipp Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hildesh ...

(1681–1767) :: Concerto in G Major for viola and orchestra, TWV 51:G9 :: Concerto in G major for 2 violas and string orchestra, TWV 52:G3

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Henri Vieuxtemps Henri François Joseph Vieuxtemps ( 17 February 18206 June 1881) was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th ce ...

(1820–1881) :: Sonata in B-flat major for viola and piano, Op. 36 (1862)

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Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

(1972–1958) :: ''

Flos Campi ''Flos Campi'': suite for solo viola, small chorus and small orchestra is a composition by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, completed in 1925. Its title is Latin for "flower of the field". It is neither a concerto nor a choral piece ...

'' for viola, wordless chorus, and small orchestra (1925) :: '' Four Hymns'' for tenor, viola, and string orchestra (1914) ::

Romance Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to: Common meanings * Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings * Romance languages, ...

for viola and piano (c. 1914) :: '' Six Studies in English Folk Song'' for cello or viola and piano (1926) :: Suite for viola and small orchestra (1933–1934) *

William Walton Sir William Turner Walton (29 March 19028 March 1983) was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera. His best-known works include ''Façade'', the cantat ...

(1902–1983) ::

Viola Concerto A viola concerto is a concerto contrasting a viola with another body of musical instruments such as an orchestra or chamber music ensemble. Early examples of viola concertos include Telemann's concerto in G major and several concertos by Carl St ...

in A minor (1928–1929) *

Graham Waterhouse Graham Waterhouse (born 2 November 1962) is an English composer and cellist who specializes in chamber music. He has composed a cello concerto, ''Three Pieces for Solo Cello'' and ''Variations for Cello Solo'' for his own instrument, and string ...

(b. 1962) :: '' Four Epigraphs after Escher'', Op. 35, for viola,

heckelphone The heckelphone (german: Heckelphon) is a musical instrument invented by Wilhelm Heckel and his sons. The idea to create the instrument was initiated by Richard Wagner, who suggested it at the occasion of a visit of Wilhelm Heckel in 1879. In ...

and piano (1993) :: '' Sonata ebraica'' for viola and piano (2013) *

John Woolrich John Woolrich ( ; born 1954 in Cirencester) is an English composer. Biography Woolrich has founded a group (the Composers Ensemble), a festival (Hoxton New Music Days), and has been composer in association with the Orchestra of St John's and th ...

(b. 1954) :: '' Ulysses Awakes'' for viola and ten strings (1989)

References

External links

List of Compositions Featuring the Viola
at the

International Music Score Library Project The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a subscription-based digital library of public-domain music scores. The project, which uses MediaWiki software ...

Directory of Works
compiled by Music4Viola {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Compositions For viola * Classical music lists

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References

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