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 »