Strictly Classics, Book 2: Viola Book

O'Reilly has chosen repertoire that genuinely matters—Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and beyond—while keeping the arrangements honest and playable for advancing students. The flexible format means you can perform the same piece as a solo with piano, then regoup it as a trio or full ensemble depending on who shows up to rehearsal.

Spanning four centuries of music history, these arrangements connect students to the pieces that define Western music. Each page offers something substantial to play—not filler—with the satisfaction of performing recognizable, beautiful themes rather than invented exercises.

Violists in their second year of study or those ready to move beyond beginner method books will find both challenge and confidence here. This book works equally well for students preparing for Festival repertoire or those building a repertoire of real concert pieces.

• Listen to multiple recorded versions of each classic theme before rehearsal so students hear what they're working toward and understand the piece beyond their own part.
• Sketch out which arrangement levels you'll use for each ensemble piece before the semester starts; this helps you plan sectionals efficiently and gives students clear goals.
• Balance precision with style. These are arrangements of masterworks, not exercises; shape phrases musically even at slower tempos.

Program individual arrangements as concert openers or closers; a solo with piano is perfect for a student spotlight, while the larger ensemble arrangements work as chamber pieces on a recital or pops concert. The Festival designation makes several pieces ideal for competitive preparation.

• Reading across multiple ensemble configurations and transpositions
• Balancing solo visibility with ensemble blend
• Stylistic interpretation of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic material
• Sustaining longer musical phrases with consistent tone
• Collaborative chamber performance in small groups