Christmas Carols for Unaccompanied Viola
VOLUME TWO
Twenty Four standard as well as lesser known seasonal songs arranged as a Theme & Variations for Viola Solo
CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR UNACCOMPANIED VIOLA
VOLUME TWO
This is the second volume of 24 Christmas songs for unaccompanied viola. It contains a number of standard Christmas hymns but also several lesser known songs that are never-the-less just as beautiful and engaging. There are also Christmas songs from different parts of the world that are enjoyable to play and listen to.
Like the first volume, the reason for this book is twofold: 1) to provide interesting and challenging arrangements of popular carols for violists to enjoy themselves and 2) provide violists with arrangements to perform throughout the holiday season. The arrangements are somewhat demanding but provide variations of these carols that should keep audiences involved as the melodies evolve. Since having a piano or guitar accompaniment to perform with it is not always feasible, these arrangements are designed to provide their own harmony throughout the song.
The accompaniments I have arranged for these songs are all in keeping with standard viola practice handed down since the 17th century. Each song is arranged as a theme and variations, beginning with the melody harmonized with double-stops or left hand pizzicato, and progressing into more developed adaptations of the theme. The arrangements stay primarily in the first three positions with occasional harmonics and higher position work.
Each song has three or four variations and last between two to four minutes each. Violists are often asked to fill in between sections of a service or a program and these arrangements provide the musician with a number of choices that would fit the time constraints and the sentiment of the moment
Like the first volume, the reason for this book is twofold: 1) to provide interesting and challenging arrangements of popular carols for violists to enjoy themselves and 2) provide violists with arrangements to perform throughout the holiday season. The arrangements are somewhat demanding but provide variations of these carols that should keep audiences involved as the melodies evolve. Since having a piano or guitar accompaniment to perform with it is not always feasible, these arrangements are designed to provide their own harmony throughout the song.
The accompaniments I have arranged for these songs are all in keeping with standard viola practice handed down since the 17th century. Each song is arranged as a theme and variations, beginning with the melody harmonized with double-stops or left hand pizzicato, and progressing into more developed adaptations of the theme. The arrangements stay primarily in the first three positions with occasional harmonics and higher position work.
Each song has three or four variations and last between two to four minutes each. Violists are often asked to fill in between sections of a service or a program and these arrangements provide the musician with a number of choices that would fit the time constraints and the sentiment of the moment
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