Alto(English and Italian viola, French alto, German Bratsche) or violin viola is a string-bowed musical instrument of the same structure as the violin, but somewhat larger in size, which is why it sounds in a lower register. The viola strings are tuned a fifth below the violin strings and an octave above the cello strings - c, g, d1, a1 (C, G of the small octave, D, A of the first octave). The most common range is from c (up to the small octave) to e3 (mi of the third octave); in solo works, higher sounds can be used. Notes are written in alto and treble clefs.

Story

The viola is considered to be the earliest existing bowed instrument. The time of its appearance dates back to the turn of the 15th–16th centuries. The viola was the first instrument that was exactly the shape we are used to seeing. It was designed by Antonio Stradivari.

The ancestor of the viola is considered to be the viola da braccio (Italian: viola da braccio), or viola for the hand. This viol, like today's violins and violas, was held on the left shoulder, unlike the viola da gamba (Italian: viola da gamba), which was held on the knee or between the knees. Over time, the Italian name of the instrument was shortened to simply viola, under which it entered, for example, the English language, or to Bratsche (distorted braccio), which was fixed in German and similar languages.

The design of a modern viola is almost no different from a violin, with the exception of size. The viola does not have a size division like the violin; the size of the viola is measured in millimeters. There are violas from 350 mm (this is less than a whole violin) to 425 mm. The choice of instrument size depends on the length of the performer's arms.

Of the entire violin family, the viola was closest to the viol in size and sound, so it quickly became part of the orchestra as a middle voice and harmoniously joined it. Thus, the viola was a kind of bridge between the fading viol family and the emerging violin instruments.

Musical instrument: Viola

At first glance, an uninitiated listener can easily confuse this stringed instrument with violin . Indeed, apart from the sizes, they are similar in appearance. But you just have to listen to its timbre - the difference is immediately noticeable, the chesty and at the same time surprisingly soft and slightly muffled sound is reminiscent of a contralto - soft and expressive.

When people think of stringed instruments, the viola is usually forgotten in favor of its smaller or larger cousins, but its rich timbre and interesting history make it worth taking a closer look at.The viola is a philosopher's instrument, without attracting attention to itself, it modestly settled in the orchestra between the violin and cello.

Read the history and many interesting facts about this musical instrument on our page.

Sound

Languid, eloquent, noble, velvety, sensitive, powerful, and sometimes veiled - this is how one can describe the varied timbre of the viola. Its sound may not be as expressive and bright as that of violins , but much warmer and softer.

The colorful timbre coloring is the result of the varied sound of each string of the instrument. The lowest C string has a powerful, resonant, rich timbre that can convey a feeling of foreboding and evoke dark and gloomy moods. And the upper “A”, in sharp contrast to the other strings, has its own individual character: soulful and ascetic.

Many outstanding composers have used the characteristic sound of the viola in a very artistic way: in the “1812” overture P.I. Tchaikovsky - church hymn; V opera "The Queen of Spades" - the singing of the nuns in the 5th scene, when Herman imagines the funeral procession; in the symphony D.D Shostakovich “1905” - the melody of the song “You fell a victim.”

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Interesting Facts

• Great composers such as I.S. Bach , V.A. Mozart , L.V. Beethoven , A. Dvorak , B. Britten, P. Hindemith played the viola.
• Andrea Amati was a very famous violin maker of his time, and in 1565, King Charles IX of France commissioned him to make 38 instruments (violins, violas and cellos) for the musicians of the royal court. Most of those masterpieces were destroyed during the French Revolution, but one viola survived and can be seen in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It is larger, with a body length of 47 cm.

• Another notable viola, with a crucifixion on the body, was made by the sons of Amati. The instrument belonged to the famous violist L.A. Bianchi.
• Violas and bows made by famous masters are extremely rare, so a viola made by A. Stradivari or A. Guarneri is more expensive than violins by the same masters.
• Many outstanding violinists such as: Niccolo Paganini , David Oistrakh, Nigel Kennedy, Maxim Vengerov, Yehudi Menuhin perfectly combined and combine playing the viola with playing the violin.
• In the 60s, the American rock group The Velvet Underground, the English rock group The Who, and nowadays Van Morrison, the rock groups Goo Goo Dolls, and Vampire Weekend give a prominent place to the viola in their arrangements. songs and albums.
• The names of the instrument in different languages ​​are interesting: French - alto; Italian and English - viola; Finnish – alttoviulu; German – bratsche.
• Yuri Bashmet is recognized as the best violist of our time. In 230 years, he is the first person allowed to play the V.A. instrument. Mozart in Salzburg. This talented musician actually played the entire repertoire written for the viola - about 200 musical works, 40 of which were composed and dedicated to him by modern composers.

• Yuri Bashmet still plays the viola, which he bought for 1,500 rubles in 1972. The young man made money at discos, performing songs from the Beatles' repertoire on the guitar. The instrument is more than 200 years old and was made by Italian master Paolo Tastore in 1758.
• The largest ensemble of violists consisted of 321 performers and was assembled by the Portuguese Violists Association at the Suggia concert hall in Porto, Portugal, on March 19, 2011.
• Violists are the most popular characters in orchestral anecdotes and jokes.

Popular works for viola:

V.A. Mozart: Symphony Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra (listen)

A. Vietan - Sonata for viola and piano (listen)

A. Schnittke - Concerto for viola and orchestra (listen)

Viola design

Externally the viola is very similar violin , the only difference is that it is slightly larger in size than a violin.

The viola consists of the same parts as the violin: two soundboards - upper and lower, shells, neck, mustache, stand, fretboard, headstock and others - a total of 70 elements. The top deck has the same sound holes as a violin; they are usually called “f-holes.” To make the viola, only the best samples of well-seasoned wood are used, which are coated with varnish made by craftsmen according to their unique recipes.

The length of the viola body varies from 350 to 430 mm. The length of the bow is 74 cm and it is slightly heavier than a violin bow.

The viola has four strings that are tuned a fifth lower than the violin's strings.

The dimensions of the viola do not correspond to its tuning; for this, the optimal length of the instrument body should be at least 540 mm, but in fact only 430 mm and even then the largest one. In other words, the viola is too small in relation to its tuning - this is the reason for its majestic timbre and distinctive sound.

There is no such thing as a "full" viola and can range in size from "simply bigger than a violin" to massive violas. It is worth noting that the larger the viola, the more saturated its sound. However, the musician chooses the instrument that is comfortable for him to play; it all depends on the performer’s build, the length of his arms and the size of his hand.

Today the viola is becoming an increasingly recognized instrument. Manufacturers continue to experiment with different shapes to maximize its unique sonic qualities and create new ones. For example, an electric viola does not have an acoustic body, since there is no need, because the sound appears with the help of amplifiers and microphones.

Application and repertoire

The viola is primarily used in a symphony orchestra and typically consists of 6 to 10 instruments. Previously, the viola was very unfairly called the “Cinderella” of the orchestra, because despite the fact that this instrument has a rich timbre and exquisite sound, it did not receive much recognition.

The timbre of the viola goes well with the sound of other instruments, such as the violin, cello , harp, oboe , horn - they are all part of the chamber orchestra. It should also be noted that the viola occupies an important place in the string quartet, along with two violins and a cello.

Despite the fact that the viola is mainly used in ensemble and orchestral music, it is also gaining popularity as a solo instrument. The first to bring the instrument to the big stage were the English violists L. Tertis and W. Primrose.

It is also impossible not to note the names of such outstanding performers as Y. Bashmet, V. Bakaleinikov, S. Kacharyan, T. Zimmerman, M. Ivanov, Y. Kramarov, M. Rysanov, F. Druzhinin, K. Kashkashyan, D. Shebalin, U Primrose, R. Barshai et al.

The music library for the viola, compared to other instruments, is not very large, but recently more and more works have been written for it from the pens of composers. Here is a small list of solo works that were written specifically for the viola: concertos B. Bartok , P. Hindemith, W. Walton, E. Denisov, A. Schnittke , D. Milhaud, E. Kreuz, K. Penderecki; sonatas M. Glinka , D. Shostakovich, I. Brahms, N. Roslavets, R. Schumann, A. Hovaness, I. David, B. Zimmerman, H. Hentz.

Techniques for playing the viola

Do you know how much effort playing the viola requires? Its large body plus the length of the neck require considerable strength and dexterity from the musician, because playing this instrument is difficult even physically. Due to the large size of the viola, playing technique is somewhat limited compared to the violin. The positions on the fretboard are further away, which requires a greater stretch of the fingers of the performer's left hand.

The main technique of sound production on the viola is “arco” - moving the bow along the strings. Pizzicato, col legno, martle, detaile, legato, staccato, spiccato, tremolo, portamento, ricochet, harmonics, use of mute and other techniques that violinists use are also available to violists, but require a certain skill from the musician. You should pay attention to one more fact: for the convenience of writing and reading notes, violists have their own clef - alto, however, they must be able to read notes in the treble clef. This causes some difficulties and inconveniences when playing from sight.

Learning to play the viola as a child is impossible, since the instrument is large. They begin to study it in the last classes of a music school or in the first year of a music school.

History of the viola

The history of the viola and the so-called violin family are closely related. In the past of classical music, the viola, although neglected in many aspects, played a fairly important role.

From ancient manuscripts of the Middle Ages we learn that India was the birthplace of stringed instruments. The instruments traveled with traders to many countries around the world, first coming to the Persians, Arabs, North African peoples and then to Europe in the eighth century.

The violin violin family emerged and began to develop around 1500 in Italy from previous bowed instruments. The shape of the viola, as it is said today, was not invented, but was the result of the evolution of previous instruments and the experiments of various craftsmen to achieve the ideal model.

Some argue that the viola preceded the violin. A strong argument supporting this theory is contained in the name of the tool. First viola, then viol+ino - small alto, soprano alto, viol+one - large alto, bass alto, viol+on + cello (smaller than violone) - smaller bass alto. This is logical. One way or another, the first to make violin instruments were the Italian masters from Cremona - Andrea Amati and Gasparo da Solo, and they brought them to perfection, precisely with the current form, Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri. The instruments of these masters have survived to this day and continue to delight listeners with their sound. The design of the viola has not changed significantly since its inception, so the familiar appearance of the instrument is the same as it was several centuries ago.

Italian craftsmen made large violas that sounded amazing. But a paradox occurred: musicians abandoned large violas and chose smaller instruments for themselves - they were more convenient to play. The craftsmen, fulfilling the orders of the performers, began to make violas, which were slightly larger in size than a violin and were inferior in the beauty of sound to the previous instruments.

Alto- an amazing tool. Over the years of its existence, it was still able to turn from an unnoticed “orchestral Cinderella” into a princess and rise to the same level as the “queen of the stage” - the violin. Famous violists, breaking all stereotypes, proved to the whole world how beautiful and popular this instrument is, and the composer started it K. Gluck , entrusting the viola with the main melody in the opera Alceste.

Video: listen to viola

Violin- an instrument that is called both the “queen of instruments” and the “queen of the orchestra.” A huge number of works have been written for solo violin and accompanied by an orchestra; even musical notation begins with studying the clef, called the treble clef.

Alto, although it is a close relative of the violin, does not receive such attention. Most often it is perceived simply as a large violin, and not as an independent instrument. For a long time, the viola was the “loser violin”; it was believed that if a violinist showed no promise, he could be retrained as a violist. Recently, the viola has become popular, and truly talented musicians have appeared who fill out the halls.

The appearance of the violin is quite vague. Let's dwell on one of the generally accepted versions: the ancestors of both the violin and the viola were stringed instruments called viols. They differed from the violin in that they had a flatter shape, six or seven strings, and were played with the instrument resting on the knee. In the sixteenth century there was already a clear division into two families: viols and violins. But some researchers argue that the first in the violin family were not violins at all; they appeared a little later, but violas. They were the first to be introduced into orchestras and gradually began to replace the quiet-sounding viols.

Structure

The violin belongs to the high register strings and consists of a body and a neck. The body is two decks connected by strips of wood, shells. Inside the case there is a damper that transmits vibration between the decks. A headstock is attached to the top soundboard, onto which the strings are attached. On one side, the neck is attached to the body, its lower part is attached to the neck, which passes into the head of the violin. The neck has special holes for pegs, which are used to tune the violin.

Externally, a viola can easily be confused with a violin: soundboards, neck, four strings. But it is significantly larger than the body of a violin, from 385 to 445 mm, and the neck is also longer. This instrument is more massive than a violin. And the musician who plays this instrument must also be of a fairly strong build and have strong hands.

Sound

The violin is a four-string musical instrument tuned in fifths. The sound of a violin is influenced by the smallest details: material of manufacture, varnish, symmetry. The violin's sound range is from small octave G to A fourth.

The viola sounds a fifth lower than the violin. The range of this instrument is from C small octave to E third octave. The notes for this instrument are written in a special alto clef, but can also be in the treble clef.

Conclusions website

1. The viola and violin have a similar structure, but the viola is much larger in size and has an elongated neck.
2. The viola is not taught to play from childhood, like the violin. To play the viola you need a person with strong hands, so people switch to this instrument in adulthood.
3. The viola is tuned a fifth below the violin.

“The viola is a philosophical instrument, a little sad and quiet.

The viola is always ready to help other instruments, but

never tries to draw attention to himself"

Albert Lavignac

Viola (English, Italian), alto (French), Bratsche (German)

The viola is tuned a fifth lower than the violin. Range from to the small octave to mi of the third octave. In solo works it is possible to use higher sounds. The viola part is written in alto and treble clefs.

Alto timbre compared to a violin more stern, courageous shade. The first string has a poetic chest timbre. The second one has a dull, gentle timbre. The third string has a thick, harsh sound. The fourth is distinguished by its gloom and density of sound.In general, the timbre of the viola is less bright than the violin, but thick, matte, velvety. This is due to the fact that dimensions his housings do not match his I'm building: with an optimal length of 46–47 centimeters (such violas were made by old masters of Italian schools), a modern instrument has a length of 38 to 43 centimeters. Large violas, approaching classical ones, are played mainly by solo performers with stronger hands and developed technique.

Techniques for playing the viola are slightly different from those for playing the violin due to the larger size and greater stretch of the fingers of the left hand. The position volume on the viola is equal to a perfect quart.

The main area of ​​application for violas is in symphony and string orchestras, where they are assigned, as a rule, middle voices, but also solo episodes. The viola is an essential member of a string quartet and is often used in other chamber compositions, such as a string trio, a piano quartet, and a piano quintet. Traditionally, violinists have been large-bodied violinists with large hands and a wide vibration. However, some famous musicians (Niccolò Paganini, David Oistrakh) successfully combined playing the violin and viola. Due to its small repertoire, the viola was relatively rarely used as a solo instrument. Nowadays, quite a lot of good violists have appeared, among them Vadim Borisovsky, Fyodor Druzhinin, Yuri Bashmet, Yuri Kramarov. Very young, winners V International violist competition named after. Bashmet: Nils (Germany), Andrey Usov, Vladimir Akimov, Natalya Alenitsyna (Russia).

Homework:

1. Look at interesting materials

Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists ensemble play Stradivarius, Guarneri, Gasparo da Salo, and Paolo Testere instruments.

Listen to excerpts from works for viola:

Schnittke Concerto for viola and orchestra

Mozart Duo for violin and viola

Shostakovich Sonata for viola op.147

Kancheli "Styx" for viola, choir and orchestra

Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for viola

2. Play viola parts from orchestral works. Pay attention to the game techniques!

Techniques for playing the viola differ slightly from techniques for playing the violin in the method of sound production and technique, but the playing technique itself is a little more limited due to the larger size, and as a result, the need for greater stretching of the fingers of the left hand. The timbre of the viola is less flashy than the violin, but thick, matte, velvety in the lower register, somewhat nasal in the upper register. This timbre of the viola is a consequence of the fact that the dimensions of its body (“resonator box”) do not correspond to its tuning: with a good length of 46–47 cm (such violas were made by old masters of Italian schools), a modern instrument has a length of 38–43 cm. On violas larger sizes, approaching traditional ones, are played mainly by solo performers who have stronger hands and developed technique.

When asked what a viola is, almost everyone answers: “It’s a violin, only bigger.”

This answer is correct if we mean only the shape of the instrument, its appearance. But the viola has its own corresponding timbre, which is not similar to the sound of any other instrument, therefore it cannot be considered just a large violin.

The history of the viola is dramatic. He was unlucky, and at the moment he is not very lucky.
The fact is that the body of the viola, if made according to acoustic calculations based on the instrument's structure, should be quite huge - about 46 cm in length. Of course, the length of the neck also increases. And in order to play such an instrument, the musician must have long and strong fingers. And this happens occasionally.
You may ask: how then do they play the cello, and especially the double bass - after all, these instruments are much larger than the viola?

The viola (Italian Viola, German Bratsche, French Alto), like other instruments of the violin family, originated around the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century. Russian researcher B. A. Struve believes that the viola was the ancestor of the entire violin family and was the first to join the orchestra in the 2nd half of the 16th century. When the viola appeared in the orchestra, the leading position of melodic voices was still an advantage for large viols.
Of the entire violin family, the viola was closer to the viol in size and sound, so it quickly became part of the orchestra as a middle voice and harmoniously joined it. Thus, the viola became a kind of bridge between the outgoing family of viols and the emerging violin instruments.

The viola is a philosophical instrument, a little sad and quiet. The viola is always ready to help other instruments, but never tries to draw attention to itself. Albert Lavignac (1846-1916)
We can say that for a long time the most unlucky piece of equipment in the modern orchestra was, without fail, the viola. The viola is a bowed string instrument of the violin family; it is somewhat larger in size than the violin. The earliest standards of this instrument date back to the 16th century. The outstanding Italian master A. Stradivari played a gigantic role in the development of the best design of the viola. This instrument has 4 strings tuned in fifths, just a fifth lower than the violin: C-G-D-A. At first, all viola strings were made from cores, but nowadays their core is made from both cores and steel, which is covered with an iron braid on top. Compared to the violin, the viola is the least mobile instrument; it has a dull, dull, but soft and expressive timbre. The viola has long been used in string quartets and symphony orchestras to fill middle, melodically “neutral” voices in the overall sound harmony and therefore was usually kept at the level of a less developed instrument. The prerequisite for this unusual phenomenon was the fact that, on the one hand, the composers themselves did not strive to develop middle voices, and on the other, they did not want to notice the natural properties of the viola that it possessed.

The viola is a bowed string musical instrument slightly larger than a violin. (Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1995)
There is such a funny story. A conductor is walking through the desert and suddenly sees a violist standing in the sand and playing divinely. The conductor was horrified. And later he thinks: “Well, no, this cannot be. Thank God, this is just a mirage.”
Just some 30 years ago, a violist for any violinist was something like a subhuman. This is approximately how the owner of a luxury foreign car looks at the driver of a Zaporozhets. The violists, as they are called by conviction, could be counted on one hand. Basically, the viola was played by those musicians who were not up to par with the violinist; in other words, they were the least capable or laziest. Since composers actually did not write solo works for the viola, practicing on this instrument, undeservedly offended by God, took up even less time from students than practicing on the violin.