Viola

The viola is a string instrument that belongs to the violin family. It is a bit bigger than the violin and makes a lower, richer sound. Since the 18th century, the viola has been the middle or alto voice in the violin family. It sits between the higher-pitched violin and the deeper-sounding cello. Its strings are usually tuned to C₃, G₃, D₄, and A₄, and it is most often played with a bow.

Historically, the size and style of the viola changed often, and it had many different names. The word viola comes from Italian, where it was called viola da braccio, meaning “of the arm.” In French, it was known by several names such as cinquiesme, haute contre, and taile, but today the French use the term alto to describe its range.

The viola was especially popular during the time of five-part harmony, often playing three lines of the harmony and sometimes the melody. It usually uses the alto clef in music notation but switches to the treble clef when playing in higher registers. In orchestras and string quartets, the viola often plays supporting roles, although it also has important solo parts in many famous pieces. Notable works include Don Quixote by Richard Strauss, Harold en Italie by Hector Berlioz, and several concertos by composers such as Béla Bartók and William Walton.

Form

See also: Violin construction and mechanics

The viola looks like a violin. It is a bit bigger than a violin, usually about 1 to 4 inches longer, with an average length of 16 inches. Smaller violas start at around 12 inches for younger players. For many years, makers have tried different sizes and shapes to balance weight and sound. Before the 1700s, larger violas played lower notes, and smaller ones played higher notes.

Some special violas were made to change the sound or make playing easier. One example is the viola alta, made for use in operas. Another is the Tertis model, which has a wider shape for a richer tone. New designs focus on making violas shorter and lighter while keeping their traditional sound. These include models with cutaway shoulders, extra shapes for comfort, and even violas that can be played like cellos. Some violas have extra strings to let players reach more notes.

Method of playing

See also: Violin technique

A person who plays the viola is called a violist. The viola is played a little differently from the violin because it is bigger. The notes are farther apart on the fingerboard, but you usually don’t need special finger placements.

The viola is held like a violin, resting on the left shoulder between the shoulder and the chin. Because it is larger, players with shorter arms might use a smaller viola. Players who are used to the violin need to use wider finger placements. They often move their left hand more and hold the bow farther from their body. The left elbow moves forward to reach the lowest string, which helps make the sound clearer. The viola uses thicker strings than the violin, which gives it a deeper and softer sound. These thicker strings need more pressure from the bow to vibrate properly. The viola’s bow is wider and heavier than a violin’s bow, especially near the part called the frog.

Tuning

The viola has four strings that are usually tuned in steps called fifths. The lowest string is C, which is an octave below middle C, with G, D, and A above it. This tuning is just one fifth below the violin, so they share three strings—G, D, and A—and is one octave above the cello.

Each string is wrapped around a peg and is tuned by turning it. Tightening the string makes it sound higher, and loosening it makes it sound lower. The A string is usually tuned first to match the pitch of the group, often between 400–442 Hz. The other strings are then tuned to it in fifths, usually by playing two strings at once. Most violas have adjusters or fine tuners, which help make small tuning changes. These are often used by younger players or on smaller violas. Some players may choose to only have a fine tuner on the A string, while others use them on all strings. These adjusters change the tension of the string by turning a small knob above the tailpiece. Tuning with adjusters is usually easier than using the pegs alone.

Small tuning changes can also be made during a performance by gently stretching the string with the hand. Pulling the string above the fingerboard lowers its pitch, and pressing the string in the pegbox raises its pitch. These tricks can help fix a slightly out-of-tune string until a proper tuning can be done.

The most common tuning for viola music is C3-G3-D4-A4, from the lowest to the highest string, with each string tuned a perfect fifth apart. However, other tunings are sometimes used in classical music, called scordatura, and in some folk styles.

Organizations and research

In the 1900s, people began learning more about the viola. In 1927, some musicians tried to create a group for viola players, but it did not last. In 1968, the International Viola Society was created, and it grew to include groups around the world. The largest group is the American Viola Society, which publishes a journal and holds competitions.

The 1960s also saw the beginning of many books about the viola. One of the first was written by Franz Zeyringer. Later, Maurice Riley wrote a history of the viola. The International Viola Society also published a yearly book in many languages. Today, Brigham Young University has a special collection of viola materials, including music, recordings, and instruments.

Music

See also: Viola repertoire

Music for the viola often uses the alto clef, a special way to write music that shows notes a bit lower. This helps violists read their music easily. The viola is tuned one octave above the cello, so music for the cello can often be played on the viola without changing the notes.

In early orchestra music, the viola mostly helped with harmonies and didn’t play many main melodies. But some special pieces, like Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, gave the viola important solo parts. Over time, more composers wrote beautiful music for the viola, including concertos and chamber music pieces. Today, the viola is used in many types of music, from classical to some modern pop and jazz, showing its versatility and lovely sound.

Notable violists

Further information: List of violists

There are not many famous players who play only the viola, because there was little solo music for the viola before the twentieth century. Some older viola players include Stamitz, Rolla, Antonio Rolla, Chrétien Urhan, Casimir Ney, Louis van Waefelghem, and Ritter. In the twentieth century, important viola players included Tertis, William Primrose, Hindemith, Théophile Laforge, Cecil Aronowitz, Maurice Vieux, Borisovsky, Lillian Fuchs, Dino Asciolla, Frederick Riddle, Walter Trampler, Ernst Wallfisch, Csaba Erdélyi, and Emanuel Vardi. Some famous violinists have also played and recorded music on the viola, including Eugène Ysaÿe, Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrakh, Pinchas Zukerman, Maxim Vengerov, Julian Rachlin, James Ehnes, and Nigel Kennedy.

Some well-known composers liked playing the viola in groups more than the violin. These include Ludwig van Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Mendelssohn, Dvořák, and Benjamin Britten. Today, composers and viola players like Kenji Bunch, Scott Slapin, and Lev Zhurbin have written new pieces for the viola.

Electric violas

Further information: Electric violin

To make the sound louder, regular violas can be fitted with a special pickup called a piezoelectric. Some electric violas are made with very little body and can be made from materials other than wood and in any color.

These electric violas are usually the size of violins because they use an amplifier and speaker to create a big sound. Because of this, some players who prefer the usual size and feel of a viola might find it tricky to use a smaller electric viola. Famous musicians like John Cale, who was part of The Velvet Underground, have used electric violas in their music. Others include Geoffrey Richardson from the band Caravan.

These instruments can have a small internal amplifier or send out a signal that can go straight to an amplifier or mixing board. In loud music styles like rock, players might also use special effects such as reverb or overdrive to change the sound.