Music Plus! An Incredible Collection: Viola Ensemble, or with Violin and/or Cello Book

Starr understands that violas often get shortchanged in ensemble collections, and this book treats the viola with equal respect. The ability to mix and match instrumentation means you can use these pieces whether your viola section is strong or you need flexibility with violins and cellos, making this genuinely practical for real rehearsal situations.

Opening these pages feels like discovering a curated concert. The pieces breathe with the character of their sources, whether drawing from baroque drama or romantic lyricism. Two-voice writing that never sounds thin or incomplete creates genuine satisfaction for players and listeners alike.

This book works for viola students who have completed intermediate reading studies and are ready for repertoire with genuine musical substance. It's equally valuable for string teachers building mixed ensembles with flexible instrumentation needs.

• Approach the varied key signatures as an opportunity to solidify transposition skills rather than a hurdle. Take time in early rehearsals mapping out where the tonal centers shift.
• Let the musical excerpts from larger works inspire listening assignments. Having students hear the complete opera or oratorio movement adds layers to their interpretation.
• Balance the ensemble voicing carefully in mixed instrumentation rehearsals. The viola writing deserves clarity, not burial under violin texture.

Feature these arrangements as standalone chamber performances, or pair them alongside full-orchestra repertoire to show students where orchestral ideas originate. The 60-page collection gives you enough material to build multiple rehearsal cycles, making it a workhorse text for studio or group study.

• Reading in multiple key signatures
• Two-part ensemble balance and blend
• Rhythmic variety within traditional meters
• Musical phrasing across stylistic periods
• Flexibility between like-instrument and mixed groupings