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Two Pieces for Viola: Viola, Solo with Piano, Solo and Piano

$5.95 USD
$5.95 USD
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Two Pieces for Viola Cover Image
Two Pieces for Viola: Viola, Solo with Piano, Solo and Piano

Two Pieces for Viola: Viola, Solo with Piano, Solo and Piano

By Frank Bridge

Item: 36-M126891
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Description
Although Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was a violist, he wrote less for it than for other string instruments. These two pieces bring out the pensive melancholy which is so characteristic of the viola's repertoire. The two pieces are titled "Pensiero" and "Allegro appassionato."

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Additional Details
Series: Master String Series - LudwigMasters
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-68-296183-4
ISBN13: 978-1-68-296183-4
UPC: 660355173653
SKU: 36-M126891
Instrumentation: Viola and Piano

More about this title

About the Composer: Frank Bridge

Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was an English composer, violist, and conductor whose chamber music and orchestral works helped shape early twentieth-century British composition. Though trained as a violist and active in string quartets, he composed prolifically across genres, earning respect for his craftsmanship and emotional depth. His later works grew increasingly chromatic and introspective, reflecting a compositional voice that moved well beyond his contemporaries' more conservative aesthetics.

Why we love this

Bridge understood the viola's voice intimately, and these two contrasting pieces showcase both its lyrical warmth and its capacity for dramatic intensity. Rather than relegating the viola to a supporting role, he gives it genuine solo presence with a piano partner that listens and responds, making this a genuinely rewarding chamber music experience for players at the intermediate-advanced level.

What to expect

"Pensiero" unfolds with quiet introspection, the viola's singing tone layered over restless harmonic movement in the piano. "Allegro appassionato" then shifts into dramatic intensity, mixing lyrical passages with driving rhythmic sections that demand both players stay engaged and responsive to one another.

Who it's for

Viola students working at the intermediate-advanced level who want to explore the solo repertoire beyond the most frequently programmed works. This pairing gives pianists and violists the chance to perform genuinely collaborative chamber music rather than accompaniment-based pieces.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening phrases of "Pensiero" with unhurried legato, allowing the piano to establish the harmonic context before the viola enters fully.
  • Balance dynamic range carefully in "Allegro appassionato"; the passionato marking calls for expressive peaks without drowning out the pianist's voice in the climactic sections.
  • Coordinate with your pianist on the piece's harmonic language; Bridge's chromatic writing requires close listening to intonation, especially in moments where the viola sustains while the piano moves harmonically.

How to use it

Program these pieces on a recital that explores string soloists, or feature them as a chamber music interlude at a concert mixing solo and ensemble works. They work particularly well in a programming sequence that moves from intimate to more dramatic character, or as part of a twentieth-century British music focus.

Skills your students will build

  • Phrasing and legato playing in a solo context
  • Collaborative listening and balance with an equal partner (not accompaniment playing)
  • Reading and intonating chromatic harmony
  • Contrasting moods within a short cycle (pensive versus passionate)

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