Let’s talk viola sonatas.

While not as publicly known as say many of the prominent violin or cello sonatas, there are plenty of wonderful sonatas written for viola that share the same level of musical qualities as their string counterparts.

In this post, we’ll go through 10 of the most significant works for viola and piano, in no particular order, and see how the repertoire has evolved over the centuries.

Let’s jump in!

1. Johannes Brahms - Viola Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120

The most celebrated viola sonatas ever written might arguably be both of the Brahms viola sonatas.

Johannes Brahms composed his Viola Sonata No. 1 in F minor in the summer of 1894 not as a viola sonata, but as a clarinet sonata.

It came out of a fascination for clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld, who inspired a great deal of clarinet music to come about from Brahms. 

It was soon after transcribed for viola, and is now a seminal work in the viola repertoire.

While a more conventional work than the second sonata, this work never ceases to captivate audiences and violists alike.

The second movement in particular is known for its aria-like qualities, being quite a standout excerpt in the viola repertoire. 

2. Johannes Brahms - Viola Sonata No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 120

Just like the first sonata, Johannes Brahms’ Viola Sonata No. 2 in E-flat Major is also a widely known chamber work for the viola, and features much of the same beauty as the first.

This work is rich in harmony, lyricality, and overall musical narrative. Each section presents its own basket of singable moments, which clearly borrow from the woodwind-qualities of the clarinet.

Dimitri Murrath teaches the Brahms Viola Sonata No. 2 in his course on tonebase Viola:

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As a bonus, members receive invitations to weekly live events, a forum of passionate violists, and custom engraved scores and workbooks.

Click here to sign up for a 14-day trial and watch this course and several others for free.

3. Dmitri Shostakovich - Viola Sonata 

Out of the vast body of work that Dmitri Shostakovich wrote, including symphonies, film scores, chamber works and concertos, the last piece he ever composed is his Viola Sonata.

This sonata is a very sparse work - the piano writing is minimal, and the viola part is understated for most of the sonata.

When the composer does decide to pick up the pace, the viola and piano engage in a fun staccato spree that is ultimately short lived, as the musical material inevitably returns to its somber and muted qualities.

An intense cadenza in the 3rd movement is full of tricky double stops, each of adding to a sense of a looming intensity that builds to the inevitable arrival of the piano. 

The conclusion of the piece, and thus the conclusion to all of Shostakovich’s music, is a very moving and tranquil “outro”, where the violist holds a sustain under the piano’s final statements just before the double bar. This extended section features quotations from each of Shostakovich’s 15 symphonies.

4. György Ligeti - Sonata for Solo Viola

In a similar fashion to Ligeti’s solo cello sonata, his Sonata for Solo Viola presents some of the most intentional and fascinating music ever written for the viola. 

Written in the later years of his life, this sonata is grounded less in his innovations in microtonality and sound mass that defined his early-middle style, and more in his late-style fixation on global folk music references.

Like many of his other works, this piece is known for how it pushes the technical limitations of the instruments it deals with, in this case the viola. Much of this piece is incredibly difficult to pull off, from rapid double stops to jagged runs, but the difficulty is necessary to achieve the stark effect Ligeti was aiming for.

5. Rebecca Clarke – Sonata for Viola and Piano

British viola virtuoso Rebecca Clarke was known in her time as a stellar performer, though her contributions as a composer to the viola repertoire went largely unnoticed throughout her lifetime.

One of her most impressive compositions was her Viola Sonata, a tender 3 movement sonata composed during the violist/composer’s initial move to the United States in 1919.

Much of the piece bears a sort of British impressionism, as heard through the confounding influences of Vaughan Williams and Debussy.

As can be expected, the work is quite virtuosic for the violist, and when the piece is not full of impressive runs, it explores enchanting lyrical moments for the violist to really sing out and project.

At times it's mysterious, at other times it's energetic and engaging. At all times, it’s attention grabbing and never presents a dull moment.

6. York Bowen - Viola Sonata No. 1 Op.18

York Bowen was very active as a composer throughout his lifetime from the late 19th Century into the mid 20th Century, although much of his recognition didn’t come until after his passing in 1962.

Bowen was a successful concert pianist in his time, performing with the biggest orchestras in the UK and premiering several of his own works. When he wasn’t performing, he was frequently composing, and a few of his works did go on to see premieres with other virtuosos, such as violinist Fritz Kreisler premiering his Suite in D Minor in 1910.

While most of his pieces were unpublished in his lifetime, they would go on to receive a lot of recognition after his passing, and his Viola Sonata No. 1 has gone on to become one of the most significant contributions to the viola repertoire.

Bowen’s Viola Sonata No. 1 Op. 18 is highly characteristic of his post-romantic style. Many cite a comparison to Rachmaninoff in his work, and that can surely be heard in the piece’s romantic chromaticism, which Rachmaninoff notably enjoyed using.

The viola writing very soloistic, which is expected, but many moments in this sonata feel almost like concerto excerpts - there is a clear emphasis in this work on texture and gesture, something synonymous with Bowen’s general style.

7. Mikhail Glinka - Viola Sonata in D Minor

While Russian classical music has become widely associated with greats like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and so many others, many cite Mikhail Glinka as the father of Russian music.

Mikhail Glinka’s Viola Sonata in D minor is undoubtedly a standout work not only in the context of viola music, but also in the context of the shift into the Romantic Era. 

Glinka’s Viola Sonata is incredibly forward thinking in his writing in this piece, and his background as a violist is apparent in the highly idiomatic writing.

Considering this is the earliest piece on this list, there is still quite a modern sensibility throughout.

8. Henri Vieuxtemps - Viola Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 36

Henri Vieuxtemps’ Viola Sonata in B-flat Major, Op 36 is regarded as one of the most important works for viola in the repertoire.

Vieuxtemps himself was a renowned violinist in his time, and contributed some of the most significant works for violin in the modern repertoire.

This success extended into the viola repertoire, despite him not performing as a violist during his career. Between the maestoso, barcarolla and scherzando movements, the piece is full of intricate music worth diving into.

9. Nino Rota - Sonata for Viola and Piano

Italian composer Nino Rota became known in his lifetime primarily for the countless film scores he composed.

Outside of his work in film, he managed to compose a massive body of concert works, including five ballets, 10 operas, and several orchestral, choral, and chamber works.

His Sonata for Viola and Piano is a brief snapshot of this work he produced, yet itself is full of lovely moments and beautiful melodies that show off the true lyrical capabilities of the viola.

10. George Enescu - Konzertstück for Viola and Piano

Lastly we have George Enescu’s Konzertstück for Viola and Piano.

Konzertstück is an intersection between French impressionist harmonies, Romanian folk music influences, and the attempt at offering the performing violist a virtuosic display of technique.

This piece is beloved by violists due to this nature, and makes fit for many recital programs.

Conclusion

And there you have it, there are many wonderful viola sonatas that are dedicated to showing off the beauty inherent in the instrument alone, sonatas that serve their own and not just as an adaptation of violin repertoire.

Are you a violist looking to advance your recital repertoire?

On tonebase Viola, you’ll find over a hundred high-quality courses from the biggest names in viola, such as Kim Kashkashian, Pinchas Zukerman, Ettore Causa, and more.

As a bonus, members receive invitations to weekly live events, a forum of passionate violists, and custom engraved scores and workbooks.

Click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial.