The only thing they managed to accomplish is prove that violists are pretty much impossible to offend. There's enough jokes out there that you can't get to professional level without developing some thick skin against them.
Yep. There's none so blind as those who will no't see. They can't even do a review of viola pieces without their moronically 11 year old level "humour".
They know much more about violas, than they show. If nothing else, they played in orchestras, string quarters with violists for years. (Have you seen the dozens vids where they play with violist friends? Or when they can recognize orchestra pieces from the viola part?)
What a roast!!🤣🤣 I think this tier list shows their personal preference though I thought most of the pieces were really good. They don't love the instrument that much so their judgement will be biased obviously.
I go to see student performances at Curtis often. Let me tell you, their violists are NO JOKE. Especially this one, I’ll have to find her name, I was totally blown away. Talent beyond talent, and she projected like a violinist too. It didn’t sound clunky at all. I think it must be that the viola is more difficult to play because when you hear it played extremely well it’s just mindblowing.
Of course it's harder to play -- it's bigger, heavier, it needs more pressure to speak, and the notes are further apart in all positions. Plus it's incredibly hard to find a shoulder rest that works.
The thing about the viola is that it doesn’t shine with other instruments or when it’s trying to play something “violiny”. When viola plays a completely solo piece with not even a piano, it sounds so deep and beautiful. The piece has to be written just so.
Yeah, it just lacks an ability to 'fight' its sound over other instruments. So perfect to blend in an orchestra, or completely on its own like you said. But having a viola solo with any other instrumentation just feels kind of weird
I once heard someone play the erlkönig by ernst on the viola. It sounded like the orchestra between his hands. That made me think the viola is the best string instrument for solo arrangements.
The problem with people who eat a lot of chilli, is that they can't taste more subtle flavours any more and crave only chilli to "liven" it up. You've chillied up your ears guys. The viola isn't the violin, it tastes different. It doesn't need violin spice, it needs a more receptive palate!!
I like that! I'm trying to psyche myself up with positivity to (continue to) play viola in our local orchestra concert in a couple of weeks, but it doesn't help I've developed 'trigger finger' with my 3rd (ring) finger & so it also hurts a little when stretching it.
True. I don't like the 'piercing' of the violin, that they mentioned. That's why I prefer the sound of the viola. So what, if a viola can't hold its ground versus a full orchestra as easily as a violin? Chamber music is great. 3 or 4 instruments cover all you need (most of the time... ;) )
Viola's dark, meaty, and sometimes muted or strained tone makes it my favorite instrument in the orchestra. The deep warmth sends me. How it connects the violins and cellos together in orchestral harmony is essential... without it, an orchestra sounds naked and sparse. Violas make the ensemble resonate with breadth and life. A good solo viola has a weight that makes the sound stick with you forever. I learned a smidge of viola from a friend in high school and have recently, over a dozen years later, been trying to work the viola up again. This list is exactly what I need - pie-in-the-sky pieces to dream of learning. Your violin bias is way too strong lol, but I really appreciate this topic being covered! Always gonna vote for giving the viola more light and exposure on your channel. :)
I'm a bass player, I can say similar things about the double bass. Check out the Dragonetti repertoire for double Bass. My Bass Professor Michael Gieb has excellent renditions of each movement. Let me know what you think, I'm curious.
It’s just worth remembering that all the things TwoSet said about the viola (it’s quiet, it can’t project, it doesn’t really have that bright, clear forceful tone) are the same things we trumpet players say about the violin.
I dont play neither instrument but the violin is the FAR superiour instrument to trumpet and you know it. Trumpet is not even in the top 3 brass instruments. Sad.
2:03 they didn't rank the whole list they had, there was abt 10 more (incl. vieuxtemps). I guess that's why they said "if you want us to rank the rest..", but they'll need to add a few more for a part 2
At the end Brett says, "Violinists out there, don't worry, there's always a back-up career." It's true, cause violinists are a dime a dozen, but a good violist is always in demand! Though you should only play viola because you love it! (Yes, I'm viola gang!)
I just woke up and the first thing I see is a TwoSet viola tier list!!!😱 I am a violist, but I never played violin before viola. I absolutely love the instrument, its rich tone is just so captivating! My personal favorite piece is Walton’s viola concerto, the piece as a whole is so great and emotional. PLEASE do a part 2, this was awesome to see!
The Walton viola concerto was actually the first concerto I heard -- and I don't mean the first viola concerto, I mean the first concerto for any instrument. It was the piece that made me want to play a string instrument. (I started on violin, but that was mainly because there was an old violin in the family that hadn't been played in 20 years and was available to me for free; I planned to switch from day one and switched when I had the chance to borrow a viola for an extended time.)
Thank you for your content. I just think it is quite absurd to judge a piece based on couple seconds of it. However, that is not the reason I am writing this. I just thought I had to write something about the Shostakovich Viola Sonata. We can hear couple cheerful seconds of a very dark piece. Yes, the microphone was too close, but that does not mean, viola is not projected well. I had the honor to hear this sonata live and I had the opposite problem. The piano was quite weak. So I don't think it is correct to dismiss the piece because of a mic too close. Fun fact, the part we can hear was not really composed for viola. It is actually the opening of opera The Gamblers (recommend hearing that beginning). Shostakovich recomposed it for viola and piano couple decades later because it works so well with viola. It is so catchy and I just love it. However as I mentioned, the piece is dark. Particularly the last movement. Especially if you think about the fact, that these were the last notes of Shostakovich basically written on his death bed. You can feel the pain, darkness, sadness and probably the last effort to resist the inevitable. I just can't imagine any other instrument playing this part better. Viola works extremely good here. At the very end we can hear a morendo part played on piano, which I believe to be something like last breath of a leaving personality. Shostakovich passed away just days after checking the official transcription of his handwriting, never to listen to this magnificent piece live.
Fuck Twoset. Some us of learn viola because it's a great instrument and we knew this long before these giggling gerties with all the maturity of 11 year old kids came along.
I'll be real, Brett got it right. The violin is piercing while the viola is more damp. Which is why I'd rather listen to a viola 80% of the time. I prefer my ears intact.
Do you know, that one of their favorite pieces they perform in every of their concerts is the Passaglia? Being violinists, they play the arragment for two violins, but still, I am sure they are very familiar with the original too. ('TwoSet Violin - Handel's Passacaglia - World Tour 2023 Berlin')
Part 2, please! As someone who started learning viola last year _because of_ your channel, you have no idea for how long I've been craving this specific video. I'm so happy right now! To what Brett said, about the viola sounding "like the violin, but muter" - I can sort of see that, but I think to me it feels more natural to think about it in a different way: the viola just has a different sound quality than a violin, it's less bright (and more difficult to project on) which can be a flaw in certain pieces/areas, but in other areas/pieces, that same quality can bean advantage, as it means it's also more mellow and less piercing than the violin. That quality really lends itself to expressing sadness, grief, fear (I know, I know, queue all the viola jokes). There's a really great video by the TH-camr "Viola King" called "Top 10 Darkest Viola Pieces Ever Written" and it features a lot of pieces that weren't in this video (although they might be in part two). Maybe check it out (and it would be amazing if you considered making another video about it!), it's really good and genuinely interesting!
One of my favorite pieces for viola has always been Telemann's Viola Concerto in G major (TWV 51:G9). Especially the opening movement is beautiful. Please check that out. Also, consider the following works: - Bloch's excellent Suite for viola & orchestra - Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp - Hindemith’s Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra (Especially the last movement is very moving. Hindemith composed the piece probably in just a few hours. He had come to London to perform his work Der Schwanendreher, but King George V happened to die just as the visit began. Der Schwanendreher would have seemed too cheerful during the mourning period, so Hindemith composed as quickly as possible a beautiful piece of mourning music for viola and string orchestra more suitable for the situation.) - Reger's Piano Trio No. 1 in B minor op. 2 (for violin, viola and piano) - R.Strauss' Don Quixote - George Benjamin’s Viola Sonata - Kalevi Aho’s Trio for clarinet, viola and piano
I have a strong suspicion that Brett and Eddy secretly love the viola, but due to the mainstream bias towards the violin, they have to join the crowd and make those viola jokes. I mean, I don't know much viola piece, and some of these pieces actually sound good!! They are recommending these viola pieces to us to promote viola even though they are saying the opposite. Long live Twoset Viola!! (And they make good viola jokes, remember, viola prayer makes the best viola jokes)
They have dozens of videos, featuring violas - playing with their violist friends. They played with violists in orchestras, string quarters. They do love viola as much as any other orchestra instruments.
I've never even thought of it as joining the crowd to make viola jokes. In the battle of orchestra instruments, we're always fondly trashing each other. TwoSet being only violinists means we're missing the very savage responses me and all other violists have to violinists in normal orchestral contexts. (And missing every other instrument lovingly going after each other.)
@@phineas1117 Also the Walton and the Shostakovich sonata - they picked pretty odd clips.... Like yes but especially with the Walton they definitely didn't pick the bit that was clearest about the theme. I also wonder if they might be biased when listening to a fast movement vs a slow one?
nor with the stamitz either! That piece can be so aggressive and rich but the recording was so much more of a light tone with much more rubato and while it’s an interpretation I don’t think it fits the piece very well
One piece which is missing in this list is Mendelssohn’s viola sonata in c minor- composed when he was a essentially a foetus and just so achingly beautiful
That was great! I almost whooped out loud when I saw that clip of Maxim Rysanov playing Schubert. (He's also commissioned and conducted new works, which I think is fantastic.) Have you heard him play some of the pieces from Dobrinka Tabakova? Delicious, I'm telling you.
Thank you both, Brett & Eddy, so much for this episode! I've actually been meaning to research and find all of the good pieces with a viola solo. I'd love to see a part two to this episode. Super duper cool! 😎😎🎻🎻 Sending warm hugs. Stay healthy. Take care. 🫂💕💯🥰🥰
Running commentary from me (a clarinetist and wannabe violist): Ok they did Walton dirty 😭 it's up there with Trauermusik for best standard-rep concerto for sure I don't like the Bartok at all, it seems really awkward (and I love Bartok so that's not the problem) The Berlioz seems like more of an orchestra piece than a viola piece to me. It would be like calling Scheherazade a violin concerto The Brahms pieces are even better in their original form as clarinet sonatas! Didn't know Ligeti or Shosty wrote viola music, will listen (edit: the Ligeti kinda goes hard?) Disappointed that the Widmann Concerto didn't make it on the list, it's one of the most creative modern concertos I can think of (up there with Chin's violin concertos and Eotvos' percussion concerto)
The Shostakovich Viola Sonata a “C”? It’s one of the great pieces period, not just as a viola piece. Listen to the third movement. The piece was completed just weeks before his death, and it explores this deepest mystery of life.
We absolutely 100% need a part 2. When you do part 2, I hope you watch Marc Sabbah's performance of Vieuxtemps, Henri - Capriccio for Viola solo "Hommage à Paganini". It is gorgeous, and the acoustics are to die for🥹
Good job viola gang. After years and years and years of hard work, you finally have been honored. BTW please do a part two brett and eddy, and if you guys do, eddy should dress up as the VIOLA KING!
Part 2! I’m just realizing how much less tiring viola is to listen to than violin. I’ve learned to appreciate violin now but it still hurts my ear bones.
I only started my adventure into classical music with my first piano lesson when I was nearly 10 years old more than 60 years ago. My father LOVED the romantic era of composers, most particularly, Italian opera so those were the records I grew up with. He didn't like Baroque music and even only a sprinkling of Mozart here and there. So when my teacher told me I had to play Bach and made me listen to "old stuff" I really didn't understand any of it (or, perhaps just put up a mental block) UNTIL I listened to a fantastic recording of Brandenburg 6. At the time my teacher also taught violin and cello but not viola. I really wanted to take up viola as a second instrument. In the end, I went full on keyboard Baroque with harpsichord, Clavichord and organ. So thank you JS Bach for Brandenburg Concerto No. 6!
York Bowen's Viola Concerto should have been on the list. Not only is it a repertoire piece but Bowen was in general enthusiastic about viola and think more highly of it than violin, and wrote a lot of other chamber works for it.
8:10 “that’s too much A, we need to rebalance” and when you thought they would balance the pieces between A tier and B tier but SIKE they just casually put some in C and D tier lmao i love these guys 😂
People should know better then to take them too seriously. I admire their dedication to the violin. I’m a mandolinist and like a lot of mandolin players, I have to fight against becoming an instrument hoarder. It just seems so fun to play all the music you love on all the mandolin family instruments. The video was fun if they do a part two about the viola, I’d like to see them invite one of their viola playing friends to join them and maybe discuss their favorite solo pieces on the viola, that would be very interesting. I heard it was Mozart’s favorite stringed instrument.
actually they played that viola in a couple of vids 'Sightreading Viola Pieces on the Viola' '2 Types of Violists' 'Guessing The Concerto from the VIOLA PART' 'Violin vs Viola'
Quite like the Brandenburg Concerto no. 6! Otherwise haven't heard the majority of these, will go after the most commented about and find a few pieces to listen to! Nice to learn about something new! 👍
Hello twosetviolin!. i'm a guy who is learning violin, its Hard but its good and funny to learn the mistakes, and you are my reason for i wanted to learn violin. Thanks for make that videos! Keep going and you go far
Part two!!! Viola pieces never get shown like this, in ranking these you expose a lot more viola repertoire that I would love to learn and others need to know about! Love the funny comments lol!!
Whyy is the brandenburg all the way down there??? It's such a nice piece - I love listening to it when I want something soothing and happy when I'm reading or studying.
"I feel like we just offended all violists"....UM...I think you already accomplished that previously 😂
The only thing they managed to accomplish is prove that violists are pretty much impossible to offend. There's enough jokes out there that you can't get to professional level without developing some thick skin against them.
Yep. There's none so blind as those who will no't see. They can't even do a review of viola pieces without their moronically 11 year old level "humour".
Viola doesn’t try to be a violin. The more muted, heartier sound is intentional and works in its own right!
yeah, they'll never understand
Yeah violins have a shrill tone that I’ve had to get used to (by listening to a bunch of twoset). I like the warmer, softer sound of the viola
Whatever lets you sleep at night
the viola needs to be 22 inches long to project as well as a cello or violin, but its unique sound is still good
Guys I found the violists! Get em!
I love how educated they are on everything else except viola stuff
One of them should really deep dive and convert for a decade. Might learn something.
Brett played viola during the first weeks of uni. He knows, but the jokes are deeply rooted.
They know much more about violas, than they show. If nothing else, they played in orchestras, string quarters with violists for years. (Have you seen the dozens vids where they play with violist friends? Or when they can recognize orchestra pieces from the viola part?)
What a roast!!🤣🤣
I think this tier list shows their personal preference though I thought most of the pieces were really good. They don't love the instrument that much so their judgement will be biased obviously.
I suppose they are too focused on the violin.
"I'm struggling to hear the pitch"--Eddy
That's it. That's the quote!!!!
Perfect pitch boi losing his perfect pitch after hearing the violas (jk, violas I love you.)
Perfect pitch --> ?? Imperfect????
Well, old people lose their perfect pitch, unfortunately.
Age is coming for him. 😢
Viola broke him. 😢
Viola is his kryptonite
I go to see student performances at Curtis often. Let me tell you, their violists are NO JOKE. Especially this one, I’ll have to find her name, I was totally blown away. Talent beyond talent, and she projected like a violinist too. It didn’t sound clunky at all. I think it must be that the viola is more difficult to play because when you hear it played extremely well it’s just mindblowing.
Hope you can find her name, sounds interesting, and I would like to hear more from her.
Haesue Lee
@@stevenzhang4761 Thanks!
Of course they're not a joke. They only are if one is inspired to deem them inferior based on what TSV say.
Of course it's harder to play -- it's bigger, heavier, it needs more pressure to speak, and the notes are further apart in all positions. Plus it's incredibly hard to find a shoulder rest that works.
The thing about the viola is that it doesn’t shine with other instruments or when it’s trying to play something “violiny”. When viola plays a completely solo piece with not even a piano, it sounds so deep and beautiful. The piece has to be written just so.
Yeah, it just lacks an ability to 'fight' its sound over other instruments. So perfect to blend in an orchestra, or completely on its own like you said. But having a viola solo with any other instrumentation just feels kind of weird
1000 ....The perfect example is the Vieuxtemps Cappricio Op. 55 for solo viola
I once heard someone play the erlkönig by ernst on the viola. It sounded like the orchestra between his hands.
That made me think the viola is the best string instrument for solo arrangements.
The problem with people who eat a lot of chilli, is that they can't taste more subtle flavours any more and crave only chilli to "liven" it up. You've chillied up your ears guys. The viola isn't the violin, it tastes different. It doesn't need violin spice, it needs a more receptive palate!!
Well said
wow I totally agree with you as a violist. Well said!
I like that! I'm trying to psyche myself up with positivity to (continue to) play viola in our local orchestra concert in a couple of weeks, but it doesn't help I've developed 'trigger finger' with my 3rd (ring) finger & so it also hurts a little when stretching it.
Well put! I might say the violin is the bay leaf of the musical kitchen. Most people don't notice it, some sneer at it, those who know revere it.
True. I don't like the 'piercing' of the violin, that they mentioned. That's why I prefer the sound of the viola.
So what, if a viola can't hold its ground versus a full orchestra as easily as a violin? Chamber music is great. 3 or 4 instruments cover all you need (most of the time... ;) )
Viola's dark, meaty, and sometimes muted or strained tone makes it my favorite instrument in the orchestra. The deep warmth sends me. How it connects the violins and cellos together in orchestral harmony is essential... without it, an orchestra sounds naked and sparse. Violas make the ensemble resonate with breadth and life. A good solo viola has a weight that makes the sound stick with you forever.
I learned a smidge of viola from a friend in high school and have recently, over a dozen years later, been trying to work the viola up again. This list is exactly what I need - pie-in-the-sky pieces to dream of learning. Your violin bias is way too strong lol, but I really appreciate this topic being covered! Always gonna vote for giving the viola more light and exposure on your channel. :)
I'm a bass player, I can say similar things about the double bass. Check out the Dragonetti repertoire for double Bass. My Bass Professor Michael Gieb has excellent renditions of each movement. Let me know what you think, I'm curious.
"i feel like we just offended all violists out there"
not the first time guys... not the first time
It’s just worth remembering that all the things TwoSet said about the viola (it’s quiet, it can’t project, it doesn’t really have that bright, clear forceful tone) are the same things we trumpet players say about the violin.
I dont play neither instrument but the violin is the FAR superiour instrument to trumpet and you know it. Trumpet is not even in the top 3 brass instruments. Sad.
@@ToxicTurtleIsMad how dumb can you be ? If you can be any dumber than this comment, I'll honestly be impressed
man, I really want you guys to bring back the more classical music nerd content, where you go deep in about it.
samee
Yes!
this!
it all ended long ago, like at least 3 years ago, maybe more. They are a tabloid-alike shallow dull channel now. But they always were shallow fellas
@@Pootie_Tang imagine they just time travel and replace Pootie Tang with anti Viola shenanigans w mobsters crossed w Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cuh
VIOLA GANG RISE UP 🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥
As a Violist Yes Like The violins need to accept Violas are also good and The violinist also suck at times
@@Vrtual_stuffTHANK YOU FOR FINALLY SAYING IT
Yeah but viola bad
i play violin but one of these days i would like to own a viola just because i love the deeper tone
RAHHH 🔥🔥🔥
PLEASE DO A PART 2! As a violist, Bruch's Romance is my obsession. Also hope Wieniawski's Reverie and Vieuxtemps Capriccio are there
Thanks for the suggestions, I'm always glad to discover new pieces. I'll go look those up!
2:03 they didn't rank the whole list they had, there was abt 10 more (incl. vieuxtemps). I guess that's why they said "if you want us to rank the rest..", but they'll need to add a few more for a part 2
Don't forget the Bloch suite...
I’m learning Romanze now!
York Bowen viola concerto!!!
At the end Brett says, "Violinists out there, don't worry, there's always a back-up career." It's true, cause violinists are a dime a dozen, but a good violist is always in demand! Though you should only play viola because you love it! (Yes, I'm viola gang!)
Mozart preferred it to violin, so there!
Brandenburg concerto in C tier is wild
For real number 6 is such a banger with such a unique sound because of the instrumentation
Harold en Italie as well
@@ulysse__ Also the Shostakovich
It's the piece most-deserving of S tier
Dude Shostakovich in C kill me 😭@@arthurjohannfiedler-compos1861
I just woke up and the first thing I see is a TwoSet viola tier list!!!😱
I am a violist, but I never played violin before viola. I absolutely love the instrument, its rich tone is just so captivating! My personal favorite piece is Walton’s viola concerto, the piece as a whole is so great and emotional. PLEASE do a part 2, this was awesome to see!
The Walton viola concerto was actually the first concerto I heard -- and I don't mean the first viola concerto, I mean the first concerto for any instrument. It was the piece that made me want to play a string instrument. (I started on violin, but that was mainly because there was an old violin in the family that hadn't been played in 20 years and was available to me for free; I planned to switch from day one and switched when I had the chance to borrow a viola for an extended time.)
Pt 2 please with a Viola King cameo- I miss that bro 👑
Yes, part two please!
seconding even if i already know what the tenor of the video will be like
Or even with the actual Viola King (there's a TH-cam channel called "Viola King") - I'd love a collab!
@@Casutama that would be very cool!!!! I appreciate his stuff
I’m down
The one video we thought they would never make…
0:11 IN AND THERE'S A MOZART LAUGH
True! 😂😂🎉
Yeah I feel like Brett's laugh have gone more and more Mozarty as time pass
The Shostakovich viola sonata is absolutely fantastic
Yes yes I want a part 2!!! Loved TwoSet Viola, and some of those pieces sound really nice! 😊
Viola gang needs some appreciation after all the jokes 🤭✨
“Welcome to TwoSetViola”
I see y’all have joined the dark side
VIOLA GANG RISE UP
Apparently Mozart was so fond of the viola that he played the viola part in his quartets!
And added a second viola to create the string quintets, some of his very finest pieces.
If they do a part two, they should check out Vaughan Williams Romance for Viola and Piano, it’s beautiful
Don't encourage them. They're just a couple of kids effing around for cheap laughs.
Shostie writes a viola sonata then dies. His last piece.
Bartok's viola concerto too -- he didn't even finish it, it was completed by Tibor Serly after Bartok's death.
Part 2, we need to see the ranking for the rest of the pieces! Would also like to see them try playing on some of the alternative forms for the viola.
Thank you for your content. I just think it is quite absurd to judge a piece based on couple seconds of it. However, that is not the reason I am writing this. I just thought I had to write something about the Shostakovich Viola Sonata. We can hear couple cheerful seconds of a very dark piece. Yes, the microphone was too close, but that does not mean, viola is not projected well. I had the honor to hear this sonata live and I had the opposite problem. The piano was quite weak. So I don't think it is correct to dismiss the piece because of a mic too close. Fun fact, the part we can hear was not really composed for viola. It is actually the opening of opera The Gamblers (recommend hearing that beginning). Shostakovich recomposed it for viola and piano couple decades later because it works so well with viola. It is so catchy and I just love it. However as I mentioned, the piece is dark. Particularly the last movement. Especially if you think about the fact, that these were the last notes of Shostakovich basically written on his death bed. You can feel the pain, darkness, sadness and probably the last effort to resist the inevitable. I just can't imagine any other instrument playing this part better. Viola works extremely good here. At the very end we can hear a morendo part played on piano, which I believe to be something like last breath of a leaving personality. Shostakovich passed away just days after checking the official transcription of his handwriting, never to listen to this magnificent piece live.
Thanks for this back story. Poignant or what....
Viola tier list done, next TwoSet cello tier list!
Yes! Yes please!
It was not a ranking, but they have a beatiful video recommending cello pieces: '5 EPIC Cello Performances You Have To Listen To'
I'll always write for viola. It's a gorgeous instrument, and a lot of players are really open to playing new music.
Twoset convinced me to learn viola
Same
Same!
They did that to me long time ago. No regrets.
Same
Fuck Twoset. Some us of learn viola because it's a great instrument and we knew this long before these giggling gerties with all the maturity of 11 year old kids came along.
I'll be real, Brett got it right. The violin is piercing while the viola is more damp. Which is why I'd rather listen to a viola 80% of the time. I prefer my ears intact.
My favorite for a while has been Passacaglia. I've always wanted to see a viola pieces tier list. Finally, that wish has been fulfilled
pascagalia is amazing
Do you know, that one of their favorite pieces they perform in every of their concerts is the Passaglia? Being violinists, they play the arragment for two violins, but still, I am sure they are very familiar with the original too.
('TwoSet Violin - Handel's Passacaglia - World Tour 2023 Berlin')
Then there's Rebecca Clarke Passacaglia. Gorgeous viola❤
As a violist I'm so glad they finally did that video 🥹 Also for part 2 please listen to Martinu Rhapsody Concerto (especially the 2nd movement)
Omg very triggering. 😂😢😂
Part 2 please
+1 to that!
Lol
Part 2, please! As someone who started learning viola last year _because of_ your channel, you have no idea for how long I've been craving this specific video. I'm so happy right now!
To what Brett said, about the viola sounding "like the violin, but muter" - I can sort of see that, but I think to me it feels more natural to think about it in a different way: the viola just has a different sound quality than a violin, it's less bright (and more difficult to project on) which can be a flaw in certain pieces/areas, but in other areas/pieces, that same quality can bean advantage, as it means it's also more mellow and less piercing than the violin.
That quality really lends itself to expressing sadness, grief, fear (I know, I know, queue all the viola jokes). There's a really great video by the TH-camr "Viola King" called "Top 10 Darkest Viola Pieces Ever Written" and it features a lot of pieces that weren't in this video (although they might be in part two). Maybe check it out (and it would be amazing if you considered making another video about it!), it's really good and genuinely interesting!
You should listen to Suite for Viola and Orchestra by Vaughn Williams, it's beautiful :)
One of my favorite pieces for viola has always been Telemann's Viola Concerto in G major (TWV 51:G9). Especially the opening movement is beautiful. Please check that out. Also, consider the following works:
- Bloch's excellent Suite for viola & orchestra
- Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp
- Hindemith’s Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra (Especially the last movement is very moving. Hindemith composed the piece probably in just a few hours. He had come to London to perform his work Der Schwanendreher, but King George V happened to die just as the visit began. Der Schwanendreher would have seemed too cheerful during the mourning period, so Hindemith composed as quickly as possible a beautiful piece of mourning music for viola and string orchestra more suitable for the situation.)
- Reger's Piano Trio No. 1 in B minor op. 2 (for violin, viola and piano)
- R.Strauss' Don Quixote
- George Benjamin’s Viola Sonata
- Kalevi Aho’s Trio for clarinet, viola and piano
What about Suite Hebarique? That piece has a good viola part I think.
I have a strong suspicion that Brett and Eddy secretly love the viola, but due to the mainstream bias towards the violin, they have to join the crowd and make those viola jokes. I mean, I don't know much viola piece, and some of these pieces actually sound good!! They are recommending these viola pieces to us to promote viola even though they are saying the opposite. Long live Twoset Viola!! (And they make good viola jokes, remember, viola prayer makes the best viola jokes)
They have dozens of videos, featuring violas - playing with their violist friends. They played with violists in orchestras, string quarters. They do love viola as much as any other orchestra instruments.
They do. Every musician does its just the jokes.
I feel for them it's "meh" compared to violin, but they still appreciate good music and good musicians
@@antine1279 For them, everything is "meh" compared to the violin ;)
I've never even thought of it as joining the crowd to make viola jokes. In the battle of orchestra instruments, we're always fondly trashing each other. TwoSet being only violinists means we're missing the very savage responses me and all other violists have to violinists in normal orchestral contexts. (And missing every other instrument lovingly going after each other.)
You should have gone for the slow movement of the Brandenburg 6, absolutely beatiful duo that becomes a trio.
Wait that Hindemith Concerto clip did not do it justice 😭
Same with Harold in Italy (probably for others too, but I'm not familiar with them)
Also Paganini’s sonata
@@phineas1117 Also the Walton and the Shostakovich sonata - they picked pretty odd clips.... Like yes but especially with the Walton they definitely didn't pick the bit that was clearest about the theme. I also wonder if they might be biased when listening to a fast movement vs a slow one?
Same for the Clarke sonata. And all of the pieces, really. You can't fairly judge a 20+ minute piece on a 10 second clip.
nor with the stamitz either!
That piece can be so aggressive and rich but the recording was so much more of a light tone with much more rubato and while it’s an interpretation I don’t think it fits the piece very well
One piece which is missing in this list is Mendelssohn’s viola sonata in c minor- composed when he was a essentially a foetus and just so achingly beautiful
YOU GUYS SHOULD DO CELLO NEXT!!!!!
That was great! I almost whooped out loud when I saw that clip of Maxim Rysanov playing Schubert. (He's also commissioned and conducted new works, which I think is fantastic.) Have you heard him play some of the pieces from Dobrinka Tabakova? Delicious, I'm telling you.
We need a part 2! Im playing the Hummel Fantasy right now and i need you guys to review it!!!
part 2 pretty please with a cherry on top covered in a banana sundae
It’s 04.00, I should be asleep but here I am, watching TSV rank viola pieces and being sad when it’s over! Part 2, please!
Yeah, it's 3am here right now!
How could you do such a thing, Berlioz's Harold in Italy is so good!!!! :'(
fr it's a crime
Harold crew assemble ❤
I'm a violinist btw, I just know ab/ harold in italy cause im a berlioz fan
@@tacotuc8553 I'm also a violinist but if violists let me hold their instrument I start playing Harold 🙈
It's good, but as a violist, I get tired of being asked to play Harold by people who don't know any other viola piece.
Yes! Please part two for more viola education (and twoset roasting while ranking).
Thank you both, Brett & Eddy, so much for this episode!
I've actually been meaning to research and find all of the good pieces with a viola solo. I'd love to see a part two to this episode. Super duper cool!
😎😎🎻🎻 Sending warm hugs. Stay healthy. Take care. 🫂💕💯🥰🥰
I always remember the conductor screaming “viOOOOOLAAAAAA” whenever I hear viola in any TwoSetVid 🥲
Violaaaaaaaaaa! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Classic 😚🤌🏻
Running commentary from me (a clarinetist and wannabe violist):
Ok they did Walton dirty 😭 it's up there with Trauermusik for best standard-rep concerto for sure
I don't like the Bartok at all, it seems really awkward (and I love Bartok so that's not the problem)
The Berlioz seems like more of an orchestra piece than a viola piece to me. It would be like calling Scheherazade a violin concerto
The Brahms pieces are even better in their original form as clarinet sonatas!
Didn't know Ligeti or Shosty wrote viola music, will listen (edit: the Ligeti kinda goes hard?)
Disappointed that the Widmann Concerto didn't make it on the list, it's one of the most creative modern concertos I can think of (up there with Chin's violin concertos and Eotvos' percussion concerto)
No matter how many times I teach them, I never get tired of the Telemann solo and double concertos.
Telemann is the best!
i have a solo in a concert playing the 3rd movement tmrw and i just know i'm gonna miss that first shift XDDD
The Shostakovich Viola Sonata a “C”? It’s one of the great pieces period, not just as a viola piece. Listen to the third movement. The piece was completed just weeks before his death, and it explores this deepest mystery of life.
Yes, the extracts chosen are odd in some of these.
Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante is just a next level piece
Viola king ranking viola pieces, 100% official, definitely trustworthy!!
Morpheus by Rebecca Clark is a fantastic duet for viola and piano
Part 2 please! Also it’ll be awesome if y’all rank cello solos/concertos also 😊
We absolutely 100% need a part 2. When you do part 2, I hope you watch Marc Sabbah's performance of Vieuxtemps, Henri - Capriccio for Viola solo "Hommage à Paganini". It is gorgeous, and the acoustics are to die for🥹
THIS
4:58 abslolutely love this rendition of the Mozart concertante! Noah and Amihai are just slayyying it!
please do another 8-10 must see performances video!
i love just listening to cool pieces with you guys and seeing how you gush about them;-;
They should do "5/8/10 must-see viola performances"
Two set viola returns
Oh no
Oh yes, part two, please!
We need B2TSM to cover “Viola Gang” rn!
I would like to have heard a wee bit more of the pieces
Mozart is known to be musically the hardest. And acheiving that level of musicality on the viola is downright insane.
I think viola actually sounds very nice when played well. Look at some into more of zukermans viola stuff.
Not just Zuckermann - Tabea Zimmermann (the first soloist they showed) is really good, so are many others.
Salvatore Accardo is a really good viola player as well.
VIOLA KING COMEBACK WHEN?
you guys are a piece of work
Okay, do a part II, with Max Reger, Britten, Vaughn Williams, and Stravinsky. And a bonus round ranking all of Rolla's 40(?) viola concertos! 😂
I LOVE ROLLA❤
Good job viola gang. After years and years and years of hard work, you finally have been honored. BTW please do a part two brett and eddy, and if you guys do, eddy should dress up as the VIOLA KING!
Part 2! I’m just realizing how much less tiring viola is to listen to than violin. I’ve learned to appreciate violin now but it still hurts my ear bones.
I only started my adventure into classical music with my first piano lesson when I was nearly 10 years old more than 60 years ago. My father LOVED the romantic era of composers, most particularly, Italian opera so those were the records I grew up with. He didn't like Baroque music and even only a sprinkling of Mozart here and there. So when my teacher told me I had to play Bach and made me listen to "old stuff" I really didn't understand any of it (or, perhaps just put up a mental block) UNTIL I listened to a fantastic recording of Brandenburg 6. At the time my teacher also taught violin and cello but not viola. I really wanted to take up viola as a second instrument. In the end, I went full on keyboard Baroque with harpsichord, Clavichord and organ. So thank you JS Bach for Brandenburg Concerto No. 6!
part 2 please!! And add The 3 Gs by Kenji Bunch, some Vieuxtemps, and some Schumann (Fairytales) :D
Thank you so much!!🥰✨🙏🏻
fun fact: with the Brahms sonatas 1 & 2 it was first written for clarinet than transcribed for viola.
But transcribed by Brahms himself, and there are double-stop passages that definitely can't be played by a clarinet.
@@andrewhcit yes it was transcribed by Brahms himself. As he thought it would sound nice on the viola.
You guys should really listen to more viola - there is so much great stuff out there nowadays, even on youtube.
York Bowen's Viola Concerto should have been on the list. Not only is it a repertoire piece but Bowen was in general enthusiastic about viola and think more highly of it than violin, and wrote a lot of other chamber works for it.
Also, in 20th century viola has became something of a specialty of Britain, starting with the advocation of Lionel Tertis
Please make this a series and do it with different instruments- and please do cello next!!
I am a violist and I am proud 🥹 ❤ love ❤ you two set! 🎻
Wote for part two! I would love to hear the rest of the pieces.
The ballade from RVW's suite for viola and orchestra!
Yeah finally the so long awaited viola pieces tier list! 😂
Part II please and two more great viola works to add to the ranking: Holst's Lyric Movement and Britten's Elegy for Solo Viola.
As a violist, I need to know what they think of the Zelter concerto.
The Zelter is not so well-known to other musicians, but is wonderful to play AND listen to!
@@peggysmith-p5u I used the first movement of Zelter as my college audition piece. This piece holds a special place in my heart
You two are the best. Yes more, please.
8:10 “that’s too much A, we need to rebalance”
and when you thought they would balance the pieces between A tier and B tier but SIKE they just casually put some in C and D tier lmao i love these guys 😂
I missed Twoset's educational videos soooo much!!! Please do more🥺🥺🥺
As a violist - i think we are superior.
I agree
As a violist - i also agree
I don’t think it I know it
We are.
@@skizbees Always were.
People should know better then to take them too seriously.
I admire their dedication to the violin. I’m a mandolinist and like a lot of mandolin players, I have to fight against becoming an instrument hoarder. It just seems so fun to play all the music you love on all the mandolin family instruments.
The video was fun if they do a part two about the viola, I’d like to see them invite one of their viola playing friends to join them and maybe discuss their favorite solo pieces on the viola, that would be very interesting. I heard it was Mozart’s favorite stringed instrument.
Is the viola Eddy gave you as your birthday gift still alive, Brett?
if it's not still alive, it will haunt them as a viola-ghost until the day they die
actually they played that viola in a couple of vids
'Sightreading Viola Pieces on the Viola'
'2 Types of Violists'
'Guessing The Concerto from the VIOLA PART'
'Violin vs Viola'
@@e2pii213you are a true two set scholar, here have a phd
Quite like the Brandenburg Concerto no. 6! Otherwise haven't heard the majority of these, will go after the most commented about and find a few pieces to listen to! Nice to learn about something new! 👍
I like Brandenburg Six as well.
Part 2 and do a Cello one while you're at it.
We need Part 2! Also how about pairing pieces with bubble tea?
We need a part 2!
Thanks twoset
If you guys do a part 2 please check out holst’s lyric movement. It’s really beautiful.
Hello twosetviolin!. i'm a guy who is learning violin, its Hard but its good and funny to learn the mistakes, and you are my reason for i wanted to learn violin. Thanks for make that videos! Keep going and you go far
PART 2! PART 2 FOR MOORE!
Hilary Hahn, “the viola is a beautiful instrument” 😂😂😂 I love ❤Hilary
Part 2 please. Include Hoffmeister Concerto and the Hans Sitt Concertstuck
Part two!!! Viola pieces never get shown like this, in ranking these you expose a lot more viola repertoire that I would love to learn and others need to know about!
Love the funny comments lol!!
10:20 PART 2 LETS GAURRR
Whyy is the brandenburg all the way down there??? It's such a nice piece - I love listening to it when I want something soothing and happy when I'm reading or studying.