User talk:Violistus

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Viola music
Hello Violistus: I am happy to see your contributions to the viola composition page. I still feel I've only scratched the surface.

An essential source of information for me is WorldCat. If you type "viola au:" on the search line followed by the composer's name, you can find library listings and other important information (sometimes under the "Details" link). There is also useful information on the Compositions task force page.

To this point, I purposely haven't added works that could be considered "adaptated" for the viola to the list – for example the Bach Cello Suites or the Fauré Après un rêve. There are hundreds of "editions" for the Bach and at least 4 different transcriptions (adaptations??) for the Fauré: Milton Katims, Paul Neuberth, Louise Rood, Doris Preucil (Suzuki Viola Bk. 7). It would certainly be a task to list every edition. On the other hand, I have added works, such as the Borisovsky or Primrose transcriptions, many of which are original enough that they are not considered "adaptations". What do you think?

If I can help, don't hesitate to ask! Hrdinský (talk) 22:30, 13 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Hrdinský, and thanks for the great work you have done for this viola repertoire page! When I was a student I used Worldcat, which was a great resource for me.  For the updates I've posted, the information has come from my personal sheet music collection (I'm a violist).  I see your point about the transcriptions/arrangements, and have thought a lot about it.  You're right, there are so many arrangements of things like the Bach suites, that it would be hard to list them all (and it would take up a lot of room too), but at the same time, a list of viola music would be much richer by including this information, even if it's incomplete, don't you think?  In the meantime, I will try not to add these transcriptions to the pages.  I hope I haven't created a problem already by adding too many... and feel free to edit/change the entries I've made, to match your style, guidelines, etc., since you've already done so much work on these pages.


 * A question - which (chamber music) repertoire should be listed? Obviously viola sonatas, concertos, solo pieces, pieces with piano, duos, etc.  I also see trios listed, like for flute/viola/harp, or voice/viola/piano, but we should stay away from string trios and string quartets, yes?  Unless they feature the viola? (i.e. a piece for viola solo and string trio)


 * Best wishes from NYC Violistus (talk) 14:46, 14 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hello Violistus, I really appreciate you input.


 * I add all concertos, solos and duos. I added some trios (quartets, etc.) if I feel the viola has a significant role (i.e. the Debussy Sonata), or employs an interesting combination of  instruments (i.e. Quasi hoquetus for Viola, Bassoon and Piano by Sofia Gubaidulina).  Some chamber music combinations have their own page which I try to update when I run across repertoire: Flute, Viola and Harp or Clarinet-viola-piano trio.  Let's face it, the list just wouldn't be complete without the Brahms Lieder.


 * String trios, quartets, etc. are too numerous and should be saved for a separate list unless the viola is the featured instrument (i.e. String Quartet No.8 for Viola (as the Main Instrument), Two Violins and Cello by Jan Kapr).


 * You are right – the list would be much richer if we could list all compositions – even the Bach Suites. It's fine to include them (I'm certainly not the that-wasn't-written-for-viola-so-I'm-deleting-it police) but also important to add that the work is an adaptation.  For example the Bruch Kol Nidrei, though written for cello, violinists and violists probably play it more often.  I simply added "original for cello and ..." after the entry.  Ultimately this is to be a resource for violists to replace the outdated Wilkins, Williams or even Zeyringer lists of viola music.


 * I try not to list publishers for pre-1920s compositions as these works are now public domain and often have multiple editions/reprints. Sometimes with these works, publishers (i.e. International) have acquired a editor (i.e. Katims) and republished with copyright – their often dated and stylistically questionable fingerings and bowings forced on the viola world....  I should not get on my soap-box... (-:


 * Capitalization for me is truly a pain. I decided a long time ago that it's not worth my time thinking about what should and shouldn't be capitalized.  Generally I've just used standard English capitalization rules for book titles and moved on. Best regards, Hrdinský (talk) 17:54, 14 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hrdinský, Thanks for the very helpful information, and I will incorporate it into newly written entries/go back and correct older entries (i.e. not listing publishers for works in public domain). And you're certainly right about editions (especially 'urtext' ones) including fingerings and bowings!  Ugh!


 * A question about dates following a composition - are you entering the publication date or composition date? I assume the latter takes precedence over the former, but I just wanted to check.  If a composition date is not known for certain, should a date of publication be used instead, or should it be entered without a date?  (I'm not talking about a piece written in the 1800's and published in 1975, but a piece written in the 1940's and published in the 1940's, for example)


 * Best wishes, happy entering! Let me know if you notice anything I can be doing better, more stylistically, etc.   Mark  Violistus (talk) 20:08, 14 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hello Violistus: I always try to add the composition date – to me, publication date is irrelevant here.  Sometimes if the composition date is unknown, or if the composition and publication dates can't possibly be the same, I will add "(published 1942)", for example.  Also if the composition date is questionable, I will indicate so: (1918?) or (c.1875).  I think it's important to be careful not to spread inaccurate information.  I have several sources at hand (often laced with inaccuracies); don't hesitate to ask me to check them. Hrdinský (talk) 18:48, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Karen Tuttle
Please provide a reliable source for Ms. Tuttle's death. We consider it a BLP violation to announce people's death without a source. Favonian (talk) 23:21, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

Here you are, Favonian: http://www.curtis.edu/about-curtis/press-media-room/news-archive/2010/curtis-mourns-loss-of-karen-tuttle-emertius-faculty.html Violistus (talk) 05:16, 19 December 2010 (UTC)


 * Right you are! I actually found that reference and added it to the article before coming here to apologize for the somewhat curt message above.  Admins do tend to become a bit grumpy after long days in the trenches, defending Wikipedia and all that sail in her.  Best regards, Favonian (talk) 10:38, 19 December 2010 (UTC)

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