Repertoire for Viola and Orchestra
(17 pieces by 14 composers as of March 27, 2026)
Compiled by Dr. Juliet White-Smith and Dr. Megan E. Hill for the RBP Foundation
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! Email us at editor@musicbyblackcomposers.org.
*** Click here to see a table sortable by piece (date, orchestration, length) and composer (gender and geographical region). ***
David Baker (1931–2016)
USA
Concertpiece for Viola and Orchestra (1989)
LENGTH: 32’
INSTRUMENTATION: 3333, 4331, timp, perc(2), hp, str
PIANO REDUCTION: available for purchase
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available to rent
RECORDING: movement 1, movement 2, movement 3
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Renée Baker (b. 1969)
USA
INTERSONIC I, ii, iii (to Hindemith) for solo viola with ensemble
LENGTH: research in progress
INSTRUMENTATION: solo viola and undefined ensemble
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: contact composer
RECORDING: research in progress
DESCRIPTION: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745–1799)
Guadeloupe, France
Symphonie concertante in F major, Op. 10, No. 1 (1779)
LENGTH: 11’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 violins (principal), viola (principal), str
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available for purchase or hire
RECORDING: on NAXOS
Symphonie concertante in A major, Op. 10, No. 2 (1779)
LENGTH: 14’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 violins (principal), viola (principal), 0200, 0200, str
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available for purchase or hire
RECORDING: on NAXOS
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Noel da Costa (1929–2002)
USA
5 Epigrams for Viola and Small Wind Ensemble
LENGTH: research in progress
INSTRUMENTATION: solo viola, wind ensemble
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: research in progress
RECORDING: research in progress
DESCRIPTION: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941)
USA
Three Meditations (2015)
LENGTH: 18′
INSTRUMENTATION: 01(Eh)00, 0000, str
PIANO REDUCTION: version for viola and organ available for purchase
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available for purchase, available for rental
RECORDING: organ versions on YouTube: movement 1, movement 2, movement 3
DESCRIPTION: (Concerning the original viola/organ version) The American Guild of Organists celebrated its 2016 annual convention by commissioning Adolphus Hailstork to create a one-movement work for Viola and Organ, for which Hailstork created the haunting Lenten Mourning Tears. Engulfed in inspiration and ideas for this striking instrumental pairing, the composer added a mystically beautiful Christmas movement, and a sublime Easter, resulting in a three-movement concert suite whose movements could also stand alone for liturgical settings. For advanced organists.
Two Romances (1997)
DEDICATEE: Beverly Baker and JoAnn Falletta
LENGTH: 10’
INSTRUMENTATION: 1000, 0000, hp, str
PIANO REDUCTION: available for purchase
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available for purchase or rental
RECORDING: movement 1, movement 2
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Jeraldine Saunders Herbison (b. 1941)
USA
Concertino for Viola and Chamber Orchestra (1996)
COMMISSIONER: Afro-American Chamber Music Society
LENGTH: 19’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2222, 4221, timp, perc, str
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: contact the composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Joseph Jones
USA
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, Op. 60 (2021)
LENGTH: 28’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2222, 4200, timp, str
PIANO REDUCTION: No
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: contact composer
RECORDING: on YouTube
Click here for the composers website and bio.
Tania Léon (b. 1943)
Cuba, USA
Para Viola y Orquesta (1994)
COMMISSIONER: Meet-the-Composer / Reader’s Digest Commissioning Program
LENGTH: 18’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2(pic, Afl)22(b, cl)2(cbn), 2210, timp, perc(2), cel, str
PIANO REDUCTION: research in progress
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available for rental from Zinfonia
RECORDING: piano reduction version on YouTube
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Jeffrey Mumford (b. 1955)
USA
Viola Concerto (1993)
DEDICATEE: Misha Amory
LENGTH: 23’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2222, 2220, timp, vib, hp, str
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: contact the composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Andre Myers (b. 1973)
USA
apex of R (2017)
LENGTH: 25’
INSTRUMENTATION: 1111, 1000, perc(2), str
PIANO REDUCTION: No
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: score available for download, contact composer for parts
RECORDING: on composer’s website
Click here for composer’s website and bio.
Nokuthula Ngwenyama (b. 1976)
USA
Sonoran Storm (2016)
LENGTH: 10’
INSTRUMENTATION: hp, perc, str
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: request via email
RECORDING: on Soundcloud
Concerto No. 1 (2019)
LENGTH: 19’
INSTRUMENTATION: hp, perc, str
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: request via email
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932–2004)
USA
Concerto for Viola (1954)
LENGTH: Unknown
INSTRUMENTATION: research in progress
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: research in progress
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Shirley J. Thompson
England
Odyssey, One Movement Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (2009)
LENGTH: 8’
INSTRUMENTATION: research in progress
PIANO REDUCTION: no
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: contact composer
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s website and bio.
Olly Wilson (1937–2018)
USA
Viola Concerto (1992)
LENGTH: 20’
INSTRUMENTATION: 2(+1pic)2(ca)22, 4331, timp, perc(2), pno, hp, str
PIANO REDUCTION: No
SOLO PARTS, ORCHESTRAL PARTS, AND SCORE: available for hire
RECORDING: research in progress
Click here for the composer’s bio.
Check out our Directory of Repertoire for Unaccompanied Solo Viola »