Quatrabratsche: Vol. 1: Viola, Quartet, Score and Parts

A program that sweeps from reverent and hymn-like to sparkly and celebratory, with enough classical weight to feel purposeful. The familiar melodies ground students while the intermediate voicing keeps their attention on the craft of quartet balance and intonation.

Intermediate viola players ready to work in ensemble settings beyond duets. This collection suits school orchestras, community groups, or studio viola quartets looking for mixed repertoire that includes both accessible folk tunes and arranged standards.

• Work the string crossings in the Mozart extract separately; these tend to expose uneven bow distribution in intermediate quartets.
• Layer the Handel and Bach pieces into rehearsals weeks apart so the baroque phrasing styles don't blur together in your ensemble's memory.
• Have each viola practice their part against the recorded accompaniment independently before full quartet runs to lock intonation in exposed passages.
• Balance the texture by checking that the second viola line in "Angels We Have Heard on High" sits slightly back; it's easy for that voice to overwhelm the melody.

Slot these pieces across a holiday concert without dominating it; one Levenson arrangement works better as palate cleanser than programming all seven back-to-back. The mix of sacred and secular also makes individual selections useful for December community events or informal ensemble showcases.

• Shifting between second and third positions with accuracy
• Reading four-part viola writing with independent lines
• Ensemble intonation and balance in quartet texture
• Phrasing across stylistic periods (baroque hymns, classical themes, folk arrangements)
• Sustaining steady tone in middle register under varying harmonic contexts