Viola

A Brief History of the Viola

The Viola is the alto of the string section and is pitched a fith below the violin, whose fingering and bowing technique it shares. Known as the "instrument in the middle," the viola with its dark, warm and rich tone, was used for both the alto and tenor registers. The main problem with the original viola was it size; some of the early models were so large that they could barely be played on the arm. This problem was solved through the introduction of modern construction which allowed greater string tension and carrying power. Today's violas can carry the traditional sound without being much larger than a full size violin.