Repertoire for Unaccompanied Solo Viola
(45 pieces by 32 composers as of February 15, 2023)
Compiled by Dr. Juliet White-Smith, Joshua Dieringer, and Dr. Megan E. Hill for the RBP Foundation.
These are pieces intended for solo performer. The vast majority are unaccompanied, but may include electronics, narration, or other auxiliary actions performed by the soloist (auxiliary actions are noted when relevant).
Please let us know of any other works that should be added to this list, or if you know of any additional information or resources to complete this catalog!
And if you perform one of these pieces and have an audio or video recording that you would be willing to share, please let us know right away!
Email us at editor@musicbyblackcomposers.org.
“The Honourable” Elizabeth A. Baker
USA
Planck Density, Op. 64 (2018)
for viola with fixed media and live electronics
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Renée Baker (b. 1969)
USA
Snug Harbor
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and click here for her bio.
Kathryn Patricia Cobbler
Canada
A Home Called “Wander” (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available in Black Composer Miniature Challenge vol. 1, produced by Castle of Our Skins
RECORDING: on YouTube
Catch the Rising Sun (2020)
for viola and doubling loop pedal
MOVEMENTS: 1. Icarus…Stay Close, 2. Find Your Light, 3. Wings Meet Fire, 4. Catch the Rising Sun
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on Bandcamp
Selah (2020)
for viola and doubling loop pedal
MOVEMENTS: 1. Cradle, 2. Bach Allemande Re-Envisioned, 3. Saviour, 4. Still Here
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on Bandcamp
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Kevin Day (b. 1996)
USA
Silent Spaces (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available on the composer’s website
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Kennedy Taylor Dixon (b. 1998)
USA
pretty on paper (2019)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Forbes Graham (b. 1977)
USA
Donna and Clifford (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available in Black Composer Miniature Challenge vol. 1, produced by Castle of Our Skins
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Anthony R. Green (b. 1984)
USA, Europe
Nachtspiel (2006)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on Soundcloud
on/Zeker (2012/2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Brittany Green (b. 1991)
USA
25 (2017)
for viola and live electronics
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Jeraldine Saunders Herbison (b. 1941)
USA
Five Sketches, Op. 17 (1980)
MOVEMENTS: 1. Of Two Voices, 2. Of the Various Light in Silver Wings, 3. Of Elves by Moonlight Seen, 4. Of This Lovely Green, 5. Of Sylphs in Fields of Air
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: research in progress (a research copy is held by the RBP Foundation; this piece is copyright protected and sheet music is currently not available for sale through commercial outlets; we are continuing to research this issue)
RECORDING: none
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Chad “Sir Wick” Hughes (b. 1977)
USA
Aurora, Sonata No. 1 (2014/2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available on the composer’s website
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Gregory Jackson (b. 1976)
USA
Gigue in D Major, Op. 99 (2014)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: soon to be published by JW Pepper
RECORDING: research in progress
Reap What You Sow, Op. 104 (2015)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: soon to be published by JW Pepper
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Joseph Jones
USA
Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 49
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Lyric Suite, Op. 26
originally for cello, transcribed for viola by the composer
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
Comic Suite, Op. 45
originally for cello, transcribed for viola by the composer
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Tragic Suite, Op. 44 (2020)
originally for cello, transcribed for viola by the composer
MOVEMENTS: 1. Grave, 2. Allegretto, 3. Gallop, 4. Lamentoso
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Yaz Lancaster (b. 1996)
USA
Mimosa (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available in Black Composer Miniature Challenge vol. 1, produced by Castle of Our Skins
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Tania Léon (1943)
Caribbean, USA
Hebras d’Luz (2004)
for electric viola
COMMISSIONER: Martha Mooke
ENGRAVING: research in progress
SHEET MUSIC: research in progress
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Kevin Madison
USA
Bus Driver (2020)
for viola and narration
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available in Black Composer Miniature Challenge vol. 1, produced by Castle of Our Skins
RECORDING: on YouTube
Quinn Mason
USA
In Memory for Solo Viola (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)
USA
Rhapsody No. 1 (2021)
originally for violin, transcribed for viola by the composer
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on YouTube
Rhapsody No. 2 (2021)
originally for violin, transcribed for viola by the composer
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Jeffrey Mumford (b. 1955)
USA
wending (2001)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
the clarity of remembered springs (1993)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on YouTube
revisiting variazioni elegiac (2001)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
…becoming clear (2017)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Gary Powell Nash (b. 1964)
USA
Sui Generis Bastion (2016)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: MIDI version
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Nokuthula Ngwenyama (b. 1976)
USA
Sonoran Storm (2016)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on SoundCloud
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Patrick Prejean
USA
Suite for Solo Viola No. 2 (2021)
ENGRAVING STYLE: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Sonata for Solo Viola (2022)
DEDICATEE: John Grisgby
ENGRAVING STYLE: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for composer’s website and bio.
John Elwood Price (1935–1995)
USA
Blues and Circle Dance (1979)
ENGRAVING: manuscript, difficult to read
SHEET MUSIC: available from WorldCat.org
RECORDING: none known
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Shannon Sea
Caribbean, USA, Europe
Hannah Elias II (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available in Black Composer Miniature Challenge vol. 1, produced by Castle of Our Skins
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Carlos Simon (b. 1986)
USA
Between Worlds (2019)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchaseRECORDING: live performance of violin version on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Alvin Singleton (b. 1940)
USA
Argoru IV (1978)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: live performance on YouTube
Mookestueck (1999)
for five-string electric viola
COMMISSIONER: Martha Mooke
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on Soundcloud
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Derrick Skye
USA
Hum
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: cello version available on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Stefan L. Smith
USA
Caprice a la baroque (2008)
DEDICATEE: Rami Solomonov
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for free download
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Darian Donovan Thomas (b. 1993)
USA
3 pieces (2013)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: none
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Frederick Tillis (1930–2020)
USA
Three Showpieces for Viola (1966)
MOVEMENTS: 1. Dialogue, 2. Soliloquy, 3. Fancy
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Sakari Dixon Vanderveer
USA
El príncipe sombrío y los recuerdos de su niñez (2011)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: see composer’s website for perusal score and link to purchase
RECORDING: on SoundCloud
Everyday Victories: A Ringtone for Viola (2017)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: none
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
J. Kimo Williams (b. 1950)
USA
Quiet Shadows (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: available for purchase
RECORDING: on YouTube (begins at 22:48)
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Michael E. “Doctuh” Woods (b. 1952)
USA
Psalm #3
ENGRAVING: manuscript, legible
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: none
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Kerwin Young (b. 1970)
USA
Eva’s Ashes (2020)
ENGRAVING: computer, modern
SHEET MUSIC: request from composer
RECORDING: on YouTube (starts at 1:48)
Click here for the composer’s bio and website.
Check out our Directory of Repertoire for Unaccompanied Solo Cello »