vi·o·la vē-ˈō-lə : a musical instrument of the violin family that is intermediate in size and compass between the violin and cello and is tuned a fifth below the violin.
The viola is the alto voice of the String family. It is larger than the violin, and its lowest note is a perfect 5th lower than the violin. A typical symphony orchestra will have twelve violas seated two to a desk for a large orchestral work.
Meaning:Purple; Violet. Viola is a girl's name of Latin and Italian origin, meaning “purple” and “violet.” This beautiful floral name will be ideal for baby as they grow and blossom throughout life.
1. [ vee-oh-luh ] show ipa. noun. a four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin. a labial organ stop of eight-foot or four-foot pitch, giving tones of a penetrating stringlike quality.
The German word for viola ("bratsche") is said to come from "viola da braccio" ("viola for the arm"), which is what instruments in the violin family were referred to in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. An early viola. Its sloping shoulders show its lineage from the viol.
While they're similar in many ways, their size, strings, and sound all make a large difference. The viola is bigger, lower in sound, and requires more pressure to play, whereas the violin has a faster response and is easier to source solo parts for.
The viola is bigger, lower in sound, and requires more pressure to play, whereas the violin has a faster response and is easier to source solo parts for. Tuning to C-G-D-A rather than G-D-A-E means that the viola is read in alto clef and the bows are suited to their different builds and roles in the orchestra.
The German word for viola ("bratsche") is said to come from "viola da braccio" ("viola for the arm"), which is what instruments in the violin family were referred to in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. An early viola. Its sloping shoulders show its lineage from the viol.
There are many notes that are shared by both instruments, such as the notes on the G, D, and A strings, but when they are played on a Viola, they still sound different and carry a more somber tone, because the viola is larger and the strings are thicker.
Many of the greatest viola players of the modern era – including William Primrose, Pinchas Zukerman and Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet – were formally trained as violinists, and either still play or played the violin alongside the viola, or benefited from that training as recognised 'pure' professional violists.
So what are the differences between a viola and violin? The most obvious difference you'll notice when you place a violin and viola next to each other is their size. The viola is bigger, with an average body length of between 15.5 and 16.5 inches for adults, compared to the violin which is between 13 and 14 inches.
Both violins and violas are difficult in their own ways but many consider the viola harder to play due to its larger size, heavier weight and alto clef notation. Others believe the viola is easier as the music is often less complex due to its supporting role.
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