Bela Bartok · Professional · viola
How to play Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly
Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly is in No single key signature and sits at the professional level. Premier 20th-century viola concerto for professional, competition, and advanced conservatory auditions. The fastest way through it is to name the passage that keeps breaking, on the same five dimensions a panel listens for, and fix that one first.
The hard passages
- Folk-inflected rhythm and complex meter
- Wide leaps, double-stops, and high-register intonation
- Sustained expressive line in the Adagio religioso
- Rapid, articulate finale passagework
- Coping with differences between editions (Serly vs. later revisions)
What panels listen for
Rhythmic vitality and folk character, secure intonation in wide leaps, depth of tone in the slow movement, and clean articulation in the finale.
Frequently asked
How hard is Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly?
Professional level. A pinnacle 20th-century viola concerto on professional and major-competition audition lists; among the most demanding standard viola concertos (established viola repertoire). Editorial caveat: the score is a posthumous completion with significant version discrepancies.
What tempo is Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly?
I. Moderato; II. Adagio religioso; III. Allegro vivace. Important: Bartok's draft contained no tempo markings; these (and metronome marks) were supplied editorially by Tibor Serly, and they differ between later editions.
What are the hardest parts of Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly?
The passages that trip players up: Folk-inflected rhythm and complex meter, Wide leaps, double-stops, and high-register intonation, Sustained expressive line in the Adagio religioso, Rapid, articulate finale passagework, Coping with differences between editions (Serly vs. later revisions).
How can I tell if I am ready to perform Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly?
Talk it through with the teacher, free, no signup. Play your take of Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 (BB 128), completed by Tibor Serly, get the one specific fix that is holding you back, then run it again. The teacher listens every day, not just at lesson time.
More viola pieces
Stuck on a passage in Viola Concerto,?
Name the passage and what it does wrong. Real fix in 30 seconds. Free to try, no card.
Name the passage that breaks