Are there viola solos?
Then there are some viola solos which are not sonatas or concertos but are solos within a major composition not intended for viola. For example, there are some famous viola solos in the opera and ballet repertoire, where the principal viola in the orchestra is required to play solo.
What is an orchestra with just strings?
A string orchestra is an orchestra consisting solely of a string section made up of the bowed strings used in Western Classical music.
How many violas are in a string orchestra?
There are usually 10 to 14 violas in an orchestra and they almost always play the harmony. You play the viola the same way as you do the violin, by resting it between your chin and shoulder.
What is viola string instrument?
viola, stringed musical instrument, the tenor of the violin family. It is built in proportions similar to those of the violin but has a body length of 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 inches), about 5 cm (2 inches) longer than a violin. Its four strings are tuned c–g–d′–a′, beginning with the C below middle C.
Where do viola players sit?
In a typical stage set-up, the first and second violins, violas and cellos are seated by twos, a pair of performers sharing a stand being called a “desk”, Each principal (or section leader) is usually on the “outside” of the first desk, that is, closest to the audience.
Is a viola in an orchestra?
In an orchestra, the viola often has a larger role, providing the middle space between the violins and the lower strings. The viola is built on the same lines as the violin but is slightly larger. In the Baroque era, the viola was largely used for filling in harmonies.
How many violas are in a symphony orchestra?
twelve violas
A typical symphony orchestra will have twelve violas seated two to a desk for a large orchestral work.
What are Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s favourite viola pieces?
Li, who’s the viola soloist on the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Grammy-nominated Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works, agreed to talk us through her favourite works — music that shows off the viola’s sensual, melancholic and rich tone. Below are 10 viola pieces you should know. 1. W.A. Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante, K.364
Is the viola overlooked in classical music?
Although the viola is often overlooked by composers, there are a plethora of violists today who perform solo performances. Viola players have contributed to classical music ever since Mozart’s time and that is even more true in this day and age. Here are ten examples of great classical viola music.
What is the history of the viola?
The viola has a long and distinguished history as part of the violin family. The viola becomes an essential part of the string accompaniment during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, which lead to it taking its rightful place in the orchestra and in various popular forms of chamber music.
Who is the violist who plays the viola in this piece?
Robert Diaz, the violist playing this piece, is a Chilean-American violist. He is presently the president and director of the Curtis Institute of Music of which he is also an alumnus.