Romance, op.85, viola and piano (urtext); Max Bruch

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.