Scale System — Viola (O2921)

Book excerpt: Until comparatively recent times very little had been written for the viola as a solo instrument. Our contemporary composers have done a great deal to remedy this situation. Bax, Beresowsky, Bliss, Bloch, Delius, Hindemith, Honegger, Milhaud, Vaughan Williams, Walton and many others have contributed important sonatas, suites and concertos for the viola. Many new works are constantly being added. This new literature has placed new demands upon the violist, who in the past found a place only as an orchestra or chamber music player. Higher standards of technical perfection are required. It therefore occurred to me that the “Scalesystem” published by the eminent pedagogue and violinist Carl Flesch, regarded as a standard work by violinists the world over, would be equally valuable to violists if translated into their medium. I have undertaken this task with the encouragement of Professor Carl Flesch. The publishers and I hope that it will be found useful by performers and teachers of the viola. Charlotte Karman New York October 1941