Collections That Inspire: Anthologies for Violinists and Violists

Anthologies of music are great places to discover new music, add variety to your repertoire, and can also serve as introductions to particular musical styles, eras, or lesser-known repertoire. For amateur musicians, they can also be sources for study, recital pieces and chamber music to play with friends. Often anthologies are also carefully graded, offering amateur and student musicians a variety approachable repertoire at a variety of levels. The anthologies that I have found most interesting are collections of lesser-played works or collections that serve as an introduction to a particular musical style or era.

Anthologies for Violin

Exploring violin anthologies is a wonderful way to discover pieces outside the standard repertoire, from modern commissions to the overlooked gems from earlier centuries.

Anthologies Highlighting Underrepresented Composers

These collections shine a light on music by women, Black, and contemporary composers, offering a wide variety of voices that have too often been left out of mainstream repertoire.

Music by Black Composers (MBBC, Rachel Barton Pine Foundation)

• Level: Multiple graded volumes, Early Intermediate → Advanced.
• Features composers from the 18th century to the present.

Violin Music by Women (Sleepy Puppy Press)

• Level: Multiple graded volumes, Early Intermediate → Advanced.
• A range of historical and contemporary works.

Violin Music by Female Composers (Schott)

• Level: Early Intermediate → Upper Intermediate.
• Lyrical and expressive pieces suitable for recitals. This volume includes some of my favorites from my article [Article Name].

Spectrum for Violin (ABRSM)

• Level: Intermediate → Advanced.
• A contemporary anthology of commissioned works that are approachable as student pieces at a variety of levels, great as an introduction to contemporary music.

In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores

• Level: Upper Intermediate → Advanced.
• Contemporary works in a variety of styles written for Hilary Hahn’s album of the same name.

Collections focused on music of different eras

For those curious to explore historical periods in classical music, these anthologies group works by era and provide approachable introductions to Baroque, Romantic, and modern repertoire.

G. Schirmer Violin Anthology: 20th and 21st Century Works

• Level: Upper Intermediate → Advanced.
• Mix of contemporary and standard modern works, great for exploring modern music for the first time and for recital repertoire.

**The Romantic Violinist** (Boosey & Hawkes)

• Level: Intermediate
• A collection of short intermediate-level recital pieces from the Romantic era

**The Baroque Violinist** (Boosey & Hawkes)

• Level: Intermediate
• A variety of Baroque pieces suitable for an intermediate-level player.

The Baroque VIolin Anthology (Schott)

• Level: Easy→Intermediate
• A progressive 2 volume series of pieces by Baroque composers from Bach, Handel, Purcell, and more.

Anthologies for Viola

Though fewer in number than their violin counterparts, viola anthologies also offer opportunities to discover new voices and eras, from underrepresented composers to classic recital collections.

Viola Music by Women Composers (Sleepy Puppy Press)

• Level: Multiple graded volumes, Early Intermediate → Advanced.
• A parallel to the violin series noted above.

G. Schirmer Viola Anthology: 20th and 21st Century Works

• Level: Upper Intermediate → Advanced.
• Contemporary and modern repertoire, both lyrical and challenging pieces.

A Lionel Tertis Album, and A Second Lionel Tertis Album

• Level: Intermediate → Upper-Intermediate
• An anthology of viola music featuring composers such as Schumann, Delius, and Szymanowski, often used in the ABRSM exam syllabi.

L’Alto Classique (Henri Classens)

• Level: Intermediate
• A three-volume series of intermediate-level classical music from a variety of eras transcribed and arranged for viola. It is often used in ABRSM exam Syllabi.

Choosing an Anthology for Your Level and Interests

Selecting the right anthology depends on your playing level and musical goals, whether you want an introduction to contemporary music, a connection to a past era, or to explore composers you may not yet know. Anthologies can be great for practice variety, short recital works, chamber music, and learning whether you are an advanced amateur violinist, a violist or an adult learner.

Anthologies can be especially great resources for learners, as there are many graded series with a wide variety of engaging music starting at an early intermediate level.

The anthologies above are just a small selection of a huge range of anthologies available today.

Closing Thoughts

Anthologies remind us that there is always more music waiting to be discovered, and they can spark new directions in practice and performance. Collections of music can yield inspiring glimpses into compositions of a particular era, or offer a fresh selection of works outside of the core violin repertoire. They are ideal for amateur violinists (or violists) looking to discover new, approachable music, whether for performance or musical enjoyment. I encourage you to explore these anthologies. Look for a piece you haven’t heard, a new-to-you composer, or dive in to a particular era in classical music.