(Many longstanding trends in the arts and elsewhere are due at least party to self-stabilizing fashions like this, rather than to rational reasons only. The lack of viola solo literature is partly a consequence of the lack of capable violists.Īlso, the typical orchestra has many more violin than viola seats, further contributing to a dearth of violists.Ĭontrariwise, the absolute deluge of violin works contributed to a deluge of aspiring violinists and vice versa, in a self-reinforcing cycle. They were, in fact, often rejects from violin classes. The viola was harder to play in a dexterous way, and viola players were generally less capable than violinists. A viola solo would have been considered uncouth, much like we still consider a bass tuba solo as somewhat humorous. These adjustments lead to a different, less brilliant sound, and through much of the classical and romantic eras, composers hadn't learnt to appreciate this sound. It sounds a fifth below the violin and has the same proportions, so it would have to be 50% larger but because you couldn't easily handle such an instrument on your shoulder, it is in fact only 15-20% larger, and the rest of the difference must be made up by heavier strings, lower tension etc. The viola is acoustically less well-designed than the violin.
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