Viola

The violin family needed a member to support its treble voice and by at least 1530, the viola had arrived as its tenor or alto voice. It was regarded only as a support instrument until Carl Stamitz, himself a viola player, composed concertos for it during the 1770s. The viola also recieved a symphony from Berlioz, Harold in Italy in 1834 and a concerto by Walton in 1929, but little else. Its tone is much duller that that of the violin and viola players talk of its excessive weight. Both factors are reasons against its use in a virtuoso context.

Midi: Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6

That instrument of mixed sex, this hermaphrodite of the orchestra. -- Thomas Beecham

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