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
This page is
hosted by
Get your Free
Homepage