Romanze, Op.85 for viola and piano by Max Bruch
Urtext edition by Norbert Gertsch, with fingerings by Jurgen Weber. Published by Henle
Max Bruch (1838-1920) was a German romantic composer who wrote in the conservative tradition of Mendelssohn and Brahms. He had a strong sense of form and a special gift for lush, expressive melodic writing. Though he wrote over 200 works, he is almost exclusively known for three works: his Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, the ''Scottish Fantasy'' for violin and orchestra, and ''Kol Nidrei'' for cello and orchestra.
Max Bruch's late Romanze, Op.85 (1911) for viola and orchestra builds on the model of Beethoven's violin romances, striking a balance between lyricism and virtuosity. The work became so popular that Bruch authorized a version for viola and piano. This chamber version has since become a mainstay of the viola recital repertory. This Henle urtext edition includes viola parts with and without fingerings. Advanced level, Grade 5.
