Romance in F Major, Op. 85
Viola and Piano
By Max Bruch

I'm in high school and have studied viola for six years. I picked up the Romanze a few months ago after hearing it on the radio and deciding I had to play it. It encompasses a wide range of moods in a short time, from lush and singing to...

harsh and rhythmic. It does not, however, randomly jump between these like some pieces tend to. It spends a fair amount of time in flat keys, sometimes (briefly) as many as six. It never goes higher than Ab (treble clef, top of the staff), and never approaches blinding speed (fastest are 32nds at about quarter = 76). It's wonderful for working on phrasing, and for stretching long, expressive lines. It also allows for ensemble work with your accompanist, and I do recommend playing it with piano (or and orchestra, if you've got one). All in all, a gorgeous piece of music for a gorgeous instrument. I wholeheartedly recommend it for any violist looking for a vehicle for expression.

This is a piece every violist should have in their repetoire, and works as a great building stone of playing expressively. The engraving is well done. There are a few odd places every once and a while, but nothing that will mystify.

This is a satisfying piece to play with piano or with orchestra. It is less difficult that the Romance in A Minor which is usually for violin. I have an early viola version and have played it with orchestra - it's very rewarding.

very pleasant piece of music to play in family surroundings, particularly well written for viola

Max Bruch's "Romanze for Viola und Orchester" is one of the best pieces of its kind in musical history. This piece is in an easy key and not terribly high (when taken an octave down it still fits nicely on the cello), and portrays the beauty of love with...

stunning imagery and beautiful melodies. As a gift for a Violist or Cellist, this piece is perfect. It is not easy enough to insult a professional nor hard enough to make an amateur feel inadequate. It also comes from a less well-known composer, so if you don't know the musician's exact library, there is a very small chance that they already own this piece! I highly recommend Max Bruch's "Romance" for, if nothing else, its beauty. Once you play it, you'll find yourself singing the melody every time you're happy; if you sing it loud enough, you'll make others around you happy as well!