Q: What is the viola, and which family of instruments does it belong to?

A: The viola is a bowed string instrument that belongs to the string family. It boasts a beautiful sound quality that has often been described as resembling the sonority of the human voice.

Q: When and where was the viola created?

A: The creation of this instrument has been highly associated with that of the violin family in northern Italy between 1530 and 1550.

Q: Who were some of the main instrument makers (luthiers) involved in its development?

A: There were many families of instrument makers or “luthiers” that specialized in the making of these particular instruments around cities such as Milan, Cremona, Brescia, and Venice. Some of the leading families during this era were the Amati, da Salò, Guarnieri, and Stradivari.

Q: What were the two main types of early violas?

A: Towards the beginning, two different lines of instruments were created:

• Viole da Braccio (“arm violas”)
• Viole da Gamba (“leg violas”)

Q: How did these two types differ?

A: The Viole da Braccio was played on the arm (like modern violins and violas), while the Viole da Gamba was held between the legs (like the contemporary cello).

Q: Which type evolved into the modern viola?

A: The Viole da Braccio became the foundation of the modern string family in the 17th century, largely because their brighter, more focused tone suited Baroque music and opera better than the softer-sounding “leg violas.”

Q: What is the closest modern relative to the viola da gamba?

A: The cello is considered the closest modern relative of the viola da gamba.

Q: What instruments make up today’s string family, and what roles do they play in the orchestra?

A: The string family today comprises four instruments that play different roles in the orchestra and have a distinctive register.

• Violins: the sopranos and the smallest members
• Violas: the altos
• Violoncellos/Cellos: the tenors
• Double Bass/Contrabass: the basses and the most prominent members

Q: When did composers begin to take a serious interest in the viola?

A: The viola started gaining recognition in the late Classical era. Before that, the violin and cello were seen as more prominent solo instruments.

Q: Which composers helped elevate the viola’s role?

A: The following composers were instrumental in elevating the viola’s role:

• Franz Joseph Haydn highlighted the viola’s importance in string quartets.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a violist himself, showcased the instrument’s expressive potential in his Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in E-flat Major (K.364).
• Ludwig van Beethoven, who also played the viola, contributed to its growing prominence during his time.

Q: When did the viola achieve equal status with the violin and cello?

A: Over time, particularly by the 19th and 20th centuries, the viola gained its rightful place and status within the musical spheres until it claimed the role of being an equal to the violin and the cello.

Q: How did the design of the viola evolve in the 20th century?

A: In the 20th century, many new viola models were crafted by various instrument makers to find the ideal balance between sound quality and player comfort for these instruments.

Q: What makes the viola unique today?

A: The viola’s deep, resonant tone, expressive range, and vocal-like sound continue to make it a cherished instrument in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and solo performances around the world.