Watson Forbes - A First Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players

Corda Music Publications UK (Specialty Import) 

Watson Forbes - A First Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players

A First Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players by Watson Forbes provides a structured technical foundation for developing viola players, covering essential scales and arpeggios alongside fingering and bowing guidance.

Watson Forbes explains that scales and arpeggios, together with trilling and bowing exercises, should form the basis of a viola player’s technique. Exercises are intended to be practised both slowly, with particular attention to intonation, and quickly to develop facility and fluency.

The book presents two-octave major and minor scales, arpeggios, dominant and diminished sevenths and chromatic scales, progressing to scales in octaves, thirds and sixths. Fingering systems and suggested bowing patterns are included to help players develop secure technique and explore different approaches as their playing advances.

It also serves as a companion to Forbes’ A Book of Daily Exercises for Viola Players, with additional bowing and rhythmic patterns from that volume able to be applied to the scales and arpeggios in this series.

Contents Include:

• Major Scales – 2 Octaves
• Bowing Patterns for Arpeggios
• Major Arpeggios – 2 Octaves
• Dominant Sevenths – 2 Octaves
• Melodic Minor Scales – 2 Octaves
• Harmonic Minor Scales – 2 Octaves
• Minor Arpeggios – 2 Octaves
• Diminished Sevenths – 2 Octaves
• Chromatic Scales – 2 Octaves
• Scales in Octaves
• Scales in Thirds
• Scales in Sixths

Specialist UK Edition – Limited Australian Availability

We’ve sourced a small selection of specialist editions from Corda Music Publications in the UK, including lesser-known repertoire, technical studies and valuable teaching material that can be difficult to find through regular Australian suppliers.

These titles are imported in limited quantities. If a Corda edition is showing as out of stock, pre-orders are welcome and we can arrange a copy from the UK with our next shipment. Looking for another Corda Music title from the list?  Contact us if you’re looking for a particular work or edition and we’ll be happy to check availability. Pieces include:

• William Alwyn – Pastoral Fantasia – Viola & Piano
• Adam Gorb – Tango – Viola, Clarinet & Piano
• Kenneth Harding – Rondo Capriccio – 6 Violas
• William Alwyn – Sonata Impromptu – Violin & Viola
• Adam Gorb – Humoresque – Viola & Piano
• Minna Keal – Ballade in F Minor – Viola & Piano
• Watson Forbes – A First Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players
• Watson Forbes – A Second Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players
• Watson Forbes – A Third Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players
• Gordon Jacob – Nocturne – Viola & Cello
• Watson Forbes – A Book of Daily Exercises for Viola Players
• J.S. Bach – Chaconne – Urtext Transcription for Viola
• Joseph Haydn – Adagio Cantabile – Viola & Piano
• William Wolstenholme – Canzona – Viola & Piano
• Benjamin Dale – Introduction & Andante – 6 Violas
• Stuart Orford – Violas in the Sun – 4 Violas & Double Bass
• Edvard Grieg – Halling and Springar – Solo Violin or Viola
• Stuart Orford – Filling Time – Viola & Piano
• Maurice Ravel – Pavane pour une Infante Défunte – Viola & Guitar
• Divisions on a Ground (Mr Finger’s Minuett) – Viola & Guitar
• J.S. Bach / Watson Forbes – Chaconne – Solo Viola
• Kenneth Harding – Divertimento – Viola Quartet
• Variations on Les Folies d’Espagne – 3 Violas or Large Ensemble
• Handel – Alexander’s Feast – 4 Violas / Viola Ensemble
• James R. Kalembach – Sophistication – Viola Quartet
• Stephen M. Horn – The Sporades Suite – 3 Violas
• Robert C. Ehle – Sonata Op. 81g – Viola & Piano
• Kenneth Harding – Concertante – 5 Violas
• Ian Gammie – Bratschentanz – 4–5 Violas or Large Ensemble
• D. Scarlatti – Sonata in F, K.113 – 4 Violas
• Handel – Two Movements from Horn Suite in F – 6 Violas
• J.M. Böhm – Concerto in G Major – 2 Violas & Continuo
• Handel – Six of the Best – Viola Sextet
• Schubert – Four Popular Songs – 5 Violas & Cello/Bass
• Lullaby of Viola-Land – 4 Violas / String Quartet / Ensemble
• John Jenkins – The Siege of Newark – Viola Ensemble arrangement
• Mozart – Theme & Variations from Divertimento No. 17 – Viola & Piano
• Kenneth Harding – Idyll – 12 Violas
• Gordon Jacob – Concert-Piece – Viola & Piano reduction
• Elizabethan Duos – 13 Duets for 2 Violas
• John Webb – Here’s Fine Rosemary, Sage & Thyme – Solo Viola
• Tchaikovsky – Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 – Viola Part
• Arnold Bax – Concert Piece – Viola & Piano
• An Introduction for Viola Players to Two Songs by John Dowland
• Filippo Marchetti – Fascination Waltz – Viola & Guitar
• Boccherini – Sonata in A – Viola & Guitar
• Viola & Guitar Book 1 – Mozart Arias
• Beethoven – Variations on “Nel cor più non mi sento” – Viola & Guitar
• Edvard Grieg – Nine Lyric Pieces – Viola & Guitar
• Ar Hŷd y Nôs – Variations – Viola & Guitar
• Stuart McGowan – Sue’s Blues – Viola & Guitar
• D. Scarlatti – Two Sonatas – 4 Violas, or Violin & 3 Violas
• Brian Chapple – Viola Suite – Solo Viola
• William Alwyn – Ballade – Viola & Piano
• A Centenary Album – 3 Pieces for Viola & Piano in Memory of Harry Danks
• Kenneth Harding – Suite for 3 Violas – Five Movements
• J.P. Sousa – Liberty Bell March – Viola Quartet or Large Ensemble
• Matthew Locke – The Little Consort, Suites 6–10 – Violin, Viola & Cello
• Trios from Shakespeare’s Day – Violin, Viola & Cello
• F. Kotzwara – The Battle of Prague – Violin, Viola, Cello & Piano
• J.S. Bach – Andante for Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 – Violin, Viola & Cello
• Carl Stamitz – Quartet in D – Viola da Gamba, Violin, Viola & Cello