Viola lessons on Instrumentor, finally!

We officially welcome the viola, or viol, to instrumentor's list of instruments - To celebrate, we asked Meredith Kuliew five questions about her main instrument.

Do you actually say viola or viola?
You're free to choose! It both means the same thing. In colloquial I myself more often hear the word viola and also prefer to talk about the viola than the viola. However, you often read the word viola on programs, simply because it looks pretty. By the way, both words come from the same place: originally the instrument was called "Viola da Braccio". Braccio means "arm" in Italian and sounds like "bratscho".
What makes the viola so special?
At first glance, the viola looks like a violin. However, it is larger, differently proportioned and tuned lower. It lacks the high E-string of the violin, but you get a low C-string! Unlike the violin, there is no one size fits all for violas. The ideal size of a viola would actually be 54cm long. But that is much too big and unplayable, because our arms are too short and it would also be much too heavy on the shoulder. Therefore, the violin makers* experiment with various shapes and lengths and there are many different violas, which all sound slightly different!
How would you generally describe the sound of the viola?
The instrument has a very warm, mellow sound. Especially the C string sounds very full and dark almost like a cello. On the high strings, the viola can also sound very bright and fresh, but you have to work a little harder for it than on a violin.

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Violin or viola - When is the viola the right instrument for me?
If you really like playing dense melodies, like low notes and yet would like to try something virtuosic from time to time, the viola is just right for you! The position in the orchestra and in chamber music is also very exciting, because as a violist you usually sit in the middle and hear the other instruments from all sides. The viola with its melancholic sound is also very suitable for jazz, blues and pop ballads!
What are your top pieces of music for viola?
I really like the Sonata by Fernande Decruck. It is also played by saxophonists* because the instruments have a similar sensual timbre. Then there are a lot of pieces by Paul Hindemith, the sonatas for viola alone and also the big fantasy sonata is great! His student Felizitas Kukuck wrote 10 dances for viola solo, which I also like very much. Probably the most famous are the viola concerto by Béla Bartók, where the viola solo plays with a large symphony orchestra, or the sonata for viola and piano by Rebecca Clarke.