About the Viola:
Consider the viola to be the middle child of the violin family, sitting pretty between the big brother cello and little sister violin. That is, if you can tell the violin apart from the viola. It’s easy to mistake the viola for a violin because their sizes aren’t very different, and the pitches they each create also sound very similar. The two are also played in nearly identical ways. In truth, the viola is only a fifth below the violin in pitch range, allowing it to have a considerably richer sound perfect for playing harmonies. Unfortunately, the viola doesn’t get as many spotlight opportunities as its violin counterpart.
While someone who has no knowledge of violas or violins might not be able to tell any difference between the two, the viola is larger in size and less proportionate in shape. This difference in size contributes to the instrument’s technical differences, with notes being spread out further across the finger board, often requiring different fingerings. The heavier bow and slower responding strings also cause the violist to bow differently and more intensely than a violin player. In staying true to the family roots, the viola is most usually found with four strings. However, some luthiers have constructed violas with five strings, giving the viola a great playing range.
Due to the thicker strings, the viola takes on a thicker accent if you will, and sings slower than the violin, with a deeper, richer tone. Even the bow used to play a viola must have a wider strap of horsehair. Picture the viola like a slow turtle behind a fast hare, slow enough in fact that if a viola and violin are playing together, the violist must start moving their bow about a fraction of a second sooner than the violin in order to create a sound that begins at the same moment as the violinist’s sound. As mentioned before, the viola, more often than not, is outshined by the violin. However, chamber music is well known as one type of composition that is all about liberating the viola. Six string quartets were a favorite of Mozart’s, and typically required 2 viola parts. These also happen to be widely recognized as some of his best works. Other great composers noted to be true blue viola supporters are Beethoven and Bach, who when playing in ensembles preferred the viola over the violin.
Today, the viola is widely used, not only in chamber orchestra and ensembles, but in popular music that can be heard every day on the radio by bands like 10,000 Maniacs and The Velvet Underground. The Who have featured violas in their music, including in their huge classic, “Baba O’Reilly”, as well as The Beatles duo of violas in “Hello, Goodbye”.
While someone who has no knowledge of violas or violins might not be able to tell any difference between the two, the viola is larger in size and less proportionate in shape. This difference in size contributes to the instrument’s technical differences, with notes being spread out further across the finger board, often requiring different fingerings. The heavier bow and slower responding strings also cause the violist to bow differently and more intensely than a violin player. In staying true to the family roots, the viola is most usually found with four strings. However, some luthiers have constructed violas with five strings, giving the viola a great playing range.
Due to the thicker strings, the viola takes on a thicker accent if you will, and sings slower than the violin, with a deeper, richer tone. Even the bow used to play a viola must have a wider strap of horsehair. Picture the viola like a slow turtle behind a fast hare, slow enough in fact that if a viola and violin are playing together, the violist must start moving their bow about a fraction of a second sooner than the violin in order to create a sound that begins at the same moment as the violinist’s sound. As mentioned before, the viola, more often than not, is outshined by the violin. However, chamber music is well known as one type of composition that is all about liberating the viola. Six string quartets were a favorite of Mozart’s, and typically required 2 viola parts. These also happen to be widely recognized as some of his best works. Other great composers noted to be true blue viola supporters are Beethoven and Bach, who when playing in ensembles preferred the viola over the violin.
Today, the viola is widely used, not only in chamber orchestra and ensembles, but in popular music that can be heard every day on the radio by bands like 10,000 Maniacs and The Velvet Underground. The Who have featured violas in their music, including in their huge classic, “Baba O’Reilly”, as well as The Beatles duo of violas in “Hello, Goodbye”.
