NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Viola

The viola (French, alto; German Bratsche) is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello. In music, the range of a musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (871x482, 3 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Viola User:Shaile/violatemp ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... The Violin family of instruments was developed in Italy in the 17th Century. ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... This article is about the stringed musical instrument. ... Various sizes of viol, from Michael Praetorius Syntagma musicum (1618) Early Italian tenor viola da gamba, detail from the painting , by Raphael Sanzio, c. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... The Violin family of instruments was developed in Italy in the 17th Century. ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... This article is about the stringed musical instrument. ...

The casual observer may mistake the viola for the violin because of their similarity in size, closeness in pitch range (the viola is a perfect fifth below the violin), and identical playing position. However, the viola's timbre sets it apart: its rich, dark-toned sonority is more full-bodied than the violin's. The viola's mellow voice is frequently used for playing inner harmonies, and it does not enjoy the wide solo repertoire or fame of the violin. The name of the instrument is properly pronounced /viːˈoʊlə/ ("vee-oh-la")^[1] but often incorrectly pronounced "vye-oh-la" as the woman's name "Viola" is spoken. The perfect fifth or diapente is one of three musical intervals that span five diatonic scale degrees; the others being the diminished fifth, which is one semitone smaller, and the augmented fifth, which is one semitone larger. ... In music, timbre, or sometimes timber, (from Fr. ... Harmony is the use and study of pitch simultaneity, and therefore chords, actual or implied, in music. ...

The form of the viola

The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin but is larger in size and more variable in its proportions. A "full-size" viola's body is between one and four inches longer than the body of a full-size violin, with an average length of about 16 inches (41 cm). Small violas made for children typically start at 12 inches (30 cm), which is equivalent to a half-size violin. Often, a fractional-sized violin will be strung with the strings of a viola (C, G, D and A) for those children who need even smaller sizes^{[citation needed]}. Unlike the violin, the viola does not have a standard full size. The body of a viola would need to measure about 21 inches (53 cm) long to match the acoustics of a violin, making it impractical to play in the same manner as the violin.^[2] For centuries, viola makers have experimented with the size and shape of the viola, often compensating by tweaking the proportions or shape of the instrument in order to make an instrument with a shorter scale length and lighter weight, but which still has a large enough sound box to create the unmistakable "viola sound." For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... In a stringed instrument, a sound box amplifies the vibrations made by the strings. ...

Experiments with the size of the viola have tended to increase it in the interest of improving the instrument's sound. These include Hermann Ritter's "viola alta", an instrument measuring about 18.9 inches (48 cm) intended for use in Richard Wagner's operas.^[3] The Tertis model viola, which has wider bouts and deeper ribs to promote a better viola tone, is another slightly "non-standard" shape which allows the player to use a larger instrument than normal. Many experiments with the acoustics of a viola, particularly increasing the size of the body, result in a much deeper tone of the instrument, making the instrument resemble the tone of a cello. Since many composers wrote for a traditional-sized viola, changes in the tone of a viola, particularly in orchestral music, can have unintended consequences on the balance in ensembles. Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 â€“ 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... Lionel Tertis (29 December 1876 â€“ 22 February 1975) was an English violist and one of the first viola players to find international fame. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

More recent (and more radically-shaped) innovations address the ergonomic problems of playing the viola by making it shorter and lighter while finding ways to keep the traditional sound. These include Otto Erdesz "cutaway" viola (which has one shoulder cut out to make shifting easier);^[4] the "Oak Leaf" viola (which has two extra bouts); viol shaped violas like Joseph Curtin's "Evia" model (which also utilizes a moveable neck and a maple-veneered carbon fiber back to reduce weight):^[5] violas played in the same manner as cellos (see vertical viola); and the eye-catching "Dalí-esque" shapes of both Bernard Sabatier's violas in fractional sizes (which appear to have melted) and of David Rivinus' "Pellegrina" model violas.[1] Various sizes of viol, from Michael Praetorius Syntagma musicum (1618) Early Italian tenor viola da gamba, detail from the painting , by Raphael Sanzio, c. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... The vertical viola, or alto violin, is a stringed instrument with the range of a viola that is played in the manner of a cello. ... Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto DalÃ i DomÃ¨nech, 1st Marquis of PÃºbol (May 11, 1904 â€“ January 23, 1989), was a Spanish surrealist painter of Catalan descent born in Figueres, Catalonia (Spain). ...

Other experiments besides those dealing with the "ergonomics vs. sound" problem have appeared. American composer Harry Partch fitted a viola with a cello neck to allow the use of his 43-tone scale. Recently, several luthiers created five-stringed violas, which allow a greater playing range. Modern music is played on these instruments, but viol music can be played as well. Harry Partch (June 24, 1901 â€“ September 3, 1974) was an American composer. ...

Playing the viola

A person who plays the viola is called a violist or simply a viola player. While it is similar to the violin, the technique required for playing viola has many differences, although much of the fingering technique is comparable. The difference in size accounts for some of the technical differences, as notes are spread out farther along the fingerboard and the vibrato must be broader. The less responsive strings and heavier bow warrant a somewhat different bowing technique. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 372 KB) Summary Author: Aethir Source: Taken by user Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 372 KB) Summary Author: Aethir Source: Taken by user Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Vibrato is a musical effect where the pitch or frequency of a note or sound is quickly and repeatedly raised and lowered over a small distance for the duration of that note or sound. ... A cello bow In music, a bow is a device pulled across the strings of a string instrument in order to make them vibrate and emit sound. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2197x1342, 120 KB) Summary scanned Just plain Bill 03:00, 26 January 2006 (UTC) Top to bottom: violin, viola, cello Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Viola Violin family ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2197x1342, 120 KB) Summary scanned Just plain Bill 03:00, 26 January 2006 (UTC) Top to bottom: violin, viola, cello Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Viola Violin family ... A cello bow In music, a bow is a device pulled across the strings of a string instrument in order to make them vibrate and emit sound. ... A cello bow In music, a bow is a device pulled across the strings of a string instrument in order to make them vibrate and emit sound. ... The violin player usually holds the instrument under the chin, supported by the left shoulder (but see below for variations of this posture). ...

Tuning

The viola's four strings are tuned in fifths: C3 (an octave below middle C) is the lowest, with G3, D4 and A4 above it. This tuning is exactly one fifth below the violin, so that they have three strings in common—G, D, and A—and is one octave above the cello. Although the violin and viola have three strings tuned the same, the tone quality or sound color is markedly different. Image File history File links Viola_peg_strings. ... Image File history File links Viola_peg_strings. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer or more simplified. ... For other uses, see Octave (disambiguation). ... In Western music, the expression middle C refers to the note C or Do located exactly between the two staves of the grand staff, quoted as C4 in note-octave notation (also known as scientific pitch notation). ... This article is about the stringed musical instrument. ...

Violas are tuned by turning the pegs near the scroll, around which the strings are wrapped. Tightening the string will raise the note (make it sharper) while loosening the string will lower the note (making it flatter). The A string is tuned first, typically to 440 Hz or 442 Hz (see pitch). The other strings are then tuned to it in intervals of perfect fifths, bowing two strings simultaneously. Most violas also have adjusters (also called fine tuners) that are used to make finer changes. These permit the tension of the string to be adjusted by rotating a small knob at the opposite end of the string, at the tailpiece. Such tuning is generally easier to learn than using the pegs, and adjusters are usually recommended for younger players, although they are usually used in conjunction with one another. Adjusters work best, and are most useful, on higher tension metal strings. It is common to use one on the A string even if the others are not equipped with them. The picture on the right shows normal stringing of the pegs. Some violists reverse the stringing of the C and G pegs, so the thicker C string does not turn so severe an angle over the nut, although this is uncommon. Tuning Peg is a small peg that is used to hold a string for a stringed instrument. ... This article is about the SI unit of frequency. ... Pitch is the perceived fundamental frequency of a sound. ... The tailpiece is an element found in all musical instruments of the violin family. ... The nut of a string instrument is a small strip or block of hard material forming a transition between the strings playing length and the tuning machines on the headstock, or the tuning pegs in the pegbox at the upper end of the fingerboard. ...

Small, temporary tuning adjustments can also be made by stretching a string with the hand. A string may be tuned down by pulling it above the fingerboard, or tuned up by pressing the part of the string in the pegbox. These techniques may be useful in performance, reducing the ill effects of an out-of-tune string until the arrival of a rest or other opportunity to tune properly.

The tuning C-G-D-A is used for the great majority of all viola music. However, other tunings are occasionally employed both in classical music (where the technique is known as scordatura) and in some folk styles. Mozart, in his Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, which is in E flat, wrote the viola part in D major and specified that the viola strings were to be raised in pitch by a semitone; his intention was probably to give the viola a brighter tone to avoid its being overpowered by the rest of the ensemble. Lionel Tertis, in his transcription of the Elgar cello concerto, wrote the slow movement with the C string tuned down to B flat, enabling the viola to play one passage an octave lower. Occasionally the C string may also be tuned up to D. Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... A scordatura (literally Italian for mistuning) is an alternate tuning used for the open strings of a string instrument. ... Folk song redirects here. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. ... In the 1770s Mozart had been experimenting with the Sinfonia concertante genre, leading in 1779 to the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra K. 364, which can be considered his most successful realisation in this cross-over genre between Symphony and Concerto. ... Lionel Tertis (29 December 1876 â€“ 22 February 1975) was an English violist and one of the first viola players to find international fame. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Viola music

Reading music

Sheet music written for the viola differs from that of other instruments in that it primarily uses alto clef (sometimes called "viola clef"), which is otherwise rarely used. Viola sheet music also employs the treble clef when there are substantial sections of music written in higher registers. Sheet music is written representation of music. ... For other senses of this word, see clef (disambiguation). ...

The role of the viola in pre-twentieth century works

In early orchestral music, the viola part was frequently limited to the filling in of harmonies with little melodic material assigned to it. When the viola was given melodic parts in music of that era, it was often duplication in unison or octaves of whatever other strings played. A notable exception would be J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, which placed the two violas in the primary melodic role (it was scored for 2 violas, cello, 2 violas da gamba, and continuo). For other uses, see Orchestra (disambiguation). ... Harmony is the use and study of pitch simultaneity, and therefore chords, actual or implied, in music. ... Look up melody in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Various Viola da gamba The viol or viola da gamba family of musical instruments is related to the vihuela, rebec, etc. ...

An example of a piece written before the 20th century which features a solo viola part is Hector Berlioz's Harold in Italy, though there are also a few Baroque and Classical concerti, such as those by Telemann (one of the earliest viola concertos known), Franz Anton Hoffmeister and Carl Stamitz. Lithograph of Berlioz by August Prinzhofer, Vienna, 1845. ... Harold in Italy (Op. ... For other uses, see Baroque (disambiguation). ... The Classical period in Western music occurred from about 1730 through 1820, despite considerable overlap at both ends with preceding and following periods, as is true for all musical eras. ... Georg Philipp Telemann (March 14, 1681–June 25, 1767) was a German Baroque music composer, born in Magdeburg. ... Franz Anton Hoffmeister (May 12, 1754 – February 9, 1812) was an Austrian composer. ... Karel Stamic (May 7, 1745 - November 9, 1801), who took the German form of his name Karl Philipp Stamitz and is now better known as Carl, was a Bohemian composer, violin, viola and viola damore virtuoso. ...

The viola plays an important role in chamber music. Mozart succeeded in liberating the viola somewhat when he wrote his six string quintets, which are widely considered to include some of his greatest works. The quintets use two violas, which frees the instrument (especially the first viola) for solo passages and increases the variety and richness of the ensemble. Mozart also wrote for the viola in his Sinfonia concertante in which of the two soloists, the viola is equally as important as the violin. Another important contribution was a set of two duets for violin and viola. From his earliest works Johannes Brahms wrote music that features the viola prominently. Among his first published pieces of chamber music, the sextets for strings Op.18 and Op.36 contain what amounts to solo parts for both violas. Late in life he wrote two greatly admired sonatas for clarinet and piano, his Opus 120 (1894); later Brahms transcribed these works for the viola. Brahms also wrote Two Songs for Alto with Viola and Piano (Zwei Gesänge für eine Altstimme mit Bratsche und Pianoforte), Op. 91, "Gestillte Sehnsucht" or "Satisfied Longing" and "Geistliches Wiegenlied" or "Spiritual Lullaby," which was a present for the famous violinist Joseph Joachim and his wife, Amalie. Antonín Dvořák played the viola, and apparently said it was his favorite instrument; his chamber music is rich with important parts for the viola. Another Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, included a significant viola part in his quartet "From My Life"; the quartet begins with an impassioned statement by the viola. It should also be noted that both Bach, Mozart and Beethoven occasionally played the viola part in chamber music. Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. ... â€œMozartâ€ redirects here. ... A string quintet is an ensemble of five string instrument players or a piece written for such a combination. ... Sinfonia concertante is a musical form that originated in the classical music era, and is a mixture of the symphony and the concerto genres: It is a concerto, in that it has one or more soloists (in the classical music era usually more than one). ... Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 â€“ April 3, 1897) was a German composer of the Romantic period. ... The clarinet sonatas, Op. ... Two soprano clarinets: a Bâ™ clarinet (left, with capped mouthpiece) and an A clarinet (right, with no mouthpiece). ... Pianoforte redirects here. ... This article is about the voice-type. ... Joseph Joachim Joseph Joachim (June 28, 1831 â€“ August 15, 1907) (pronounced YO-a-chim) was a violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. ... AntonÃn DvoÅ™Ã¡k AntonÃn Leopold DvoÅ™Ã¡k ( , (often pronounced in English as ) ; September 8, 1841 â€“ May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer of Romantic music, who employed the idioms and melodies of the folk music of his native Bohemia and Moravia. ... Portrait of BedÅ™ich Smetana BedÅ™ich Smetana (pronounced ; 2 March 1824 - 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer. ... BedÅ™ich Smetanas String Quartet No. ...

The young Felix Mendelssohn wrote a little-known viola sonata in C minor (without opus number, but dating from 1824). Given the beauty of the melodies in this early work, it is perhaps surprising that this sonata has not been played more frequently in concert halls. Portrait of Mendelssohn by the English miniaturist James Warren Childe (1778-1862), 1839 Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and generally known as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 â€“ November 4, 1847) is a German composer, pianist and conductor of the early Romantic period. ... Felix Mendelssohns Viola Sonata in C minor was composed when he was only 14 years old. ...

The viola occasionally has a major role in orchestral music, for example the sixth variation of the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar, called "Ysobel". Another prominent example is the Richard Srauss "Don Quixote" for solo viola and solo cello. Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. ... Sir Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 â€“ 23 February 1934) was an English Romantic composer. ...

While the viola repertoire is quite large, the amount written by well-known pre-twentieth century composers is relatively small. There are many transciptions of works for other instruments for the viola, and the large amount of 20th-century literature is very diverse and always increasing. See "The Viola Project" at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where Professor of Viola Jodi Levitz has paired a composer with each of her students, resulting in a recital of completely brand-new works played for the very first time.

Twentieth century and beyond

In the earlier part of the 20th century, more composers began to write for the viola, encouraged by the emergence of specialized soloists such as Lionel Tertis. Englishmen Arthur Bliss, York Bowen, Benjamin Dale, and Ralph Vaughan Williams all wrote chamber and concert works for Tertis. William Walton, Bohuslav Martinů and Béla Bartók wrote well-known viola concertos. One of the few composers to write a substantial amount of music for the viola was Paul Hindemith; being himself a violist, he often performed the premieres of his own viola works. Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp has inspired a significant number of other composers to write for this combination. Elliot Carter also wrote extensively for the viola. his Elegy is one of many fine compositions employing the viola; it was subsequently transcribed for clarinet. Ernst Toch wrote an Impromptu (opus 90b) for solo viola. Ernest Bloch, a Swiss-born American composer best known for his compositions inspired by Jewish music, wrote two famous works for viola, the Suite 1919 and the Suite Hebraique for solo viola and orchestra. Rebecca Clarke was a 20th century composer who also wrote extensively for the viola. Lionel Tertis records that Edward Elgar (whose cello concerto Tertis transcribed for viola, with the slow movement in scordatura), Alexander Glazunov (who wrote an Elegy, op. 44, for viola and piano), and Maurice Ravel all promised concertos for viola, yet all three died before substantial work on them. In the latter part of the 20th century a substantial repertoire has been produced for the viola; many composers including Alfred Schnittke, Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli and Krzysztof Penderecki, have written viola concertos. The American composer Morton Feldman wrote a series of works entitled The Viola in My Life which feature concertante viola parts. Lionel Tertis (29 December 1876 â€“ 22 February 1975) was an English violist and one of the first viola players to find international fame. ... Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, CH, KCVO (August 2, 1891 - March 27, 1975) was a British composer. ... Edwin York Bowen (1884-1961) was an English classical composer and musician (pianist). ... Benjamin James Dale (b. ... A statue of Ralph Vaughan Williams in Dorking. ... For other persons named William Walton, see William Walton (disambiguation). ... Portrait of MartinÅ¯ Bohuslav MartinÅ¯ ( ; December 8, 1890â€”August 28, 1959) was a prolific Bohemian Czech composer, who wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. ... Bartok redirects here. ... Paul Hindemith aged 28. ... Claude Debussy Claude Achille Debussy (August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918), composer of impressionistic classical music. ... Flute, viola and harp are the instruments of a chamber music grouping that have become common through the establishment of ensembles that feature this set of instruments and have enjoyed new compositions written for the set. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Ernst Toch (pronounced similar to talk) (7 December 1887 - 1 October 1964) was a composer of classical music and film scores. ... Ernest Bloch with children This article is about the composer. ... Rebecca Helferich Clarke (Friskin) (August 27, 1886 â€“ October 13, 1979) was an English classical composer and violist best known for her chamber music featuring the viola. ... Sir Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 â€“ 23 February 1934) was an English Romantic composer. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Portrait by Ilya Repin, 1887. ... Maurice Ravel. ... Alfred Schnittke April 6, 1989, Moscow Alfred Garyevich Schnittke (Russian: ÐÐ»ÑŒÑ„Ñ€ÐµÌÐ´ Ð“Ð°ÌÑ€Ñ€Ð¸ÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð¨Ð½Ð¸ÌÑ‚ÐºÐµ, November 24, 1934 Engels - August 3, 1998 Hamburg) was a Russian and Soviet composer. ... Sofia Gubaidulina in Sortavala 1981 Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina, (Russian Ð¡Ð¾Ñ„Ð¸Ñ ÐÑÐ³Ð°Ñ‚Ð¾Ð²Ð½Ð° Ð“ÑƒÐ±Ð°Ð¹Ð´ÑƒÐ»Ð¸Ð½Ð°) (born October 24, 1931) is a Russian-Tatar composer of deeply religious music. ... Giya Kancheli (Georgian: áƒ’áƒ˜áƒ áƒ§áƒáƒœáƒ©áƒ”áƒšáƒ˜), born August 10, 1935 in Tbilisi, is a Georgian composer resident in Belgium. ... Krzysztof Penderecki. ... The viola concerto is a concerto contrasting a viola with another body, usually a full orchestra or string orchestra but sometimes smaller. ... Morton Feldman (January 12, 1926 â€“ September 3, 1987) was an American composer, born in New York City. ... Sinfonia concertante is a musical form that originated in the classical music era, and is a mixture of the symphony and the concerto genres: It is a concerto, in that it has one or more soloists (in the classical music era usually more than one). ...

Contemporary pop music

The viola is sometimes used in contemporary popular music, mostly in the avant-garde. The influential group Velvet Underground famously used the viola, as do some modern groups such as 10,000 Maniacs, Defiance, Ohio, The Funetics, Flobots, and others. Jazz music has also seen its share of violists, from those used in string sections in the early 1900s to a handful of quartets and soloists emerging in from the 1960s onward. It is quite unusual though, to use individual string instruments in contemporary popular music. It is usually the flute or rather the full orchestra appearing to be the favoured choice, rather than a lone string player. The upper strings could be easily drowned out by the other instruments, especially if electric, or even by the singer. A work similar to Marcel Duchamps Fountain Avant garde (written avant-garde) is a French phrase, one of many French phrases used by English speakers. ... The Velvet Underground and Nico (from left to right: John Cale, Nico, Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker) The Velvet Underground (Affectionately known as The Velvets, or V.U. for short) was an American rock and roll band of the late 1960s. ... 10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, formed in 1981 and active with various line-ups since that time. ... Defiance, Ohio is an anticapitalist, largely acoustic punk (typically referred to as folk-punk) band from Bloomington, Indiana. ... Flobots are an alternative rock/rap group from Denver, Colorado, formed in or around 2000. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ...

The viola in folk music

Although not as commonly used as the violin in folk music, the viola is nevertheless used by many folk musicians across the world. Extensive research into the historical and current use of the viola in folk music has been carried out by Dr. Lindsay Aitkenhead. Players in this genre include Cath James, David Lasserson, Eliza Carthy, Mary Ramsey, Ben Ivitsky, Gina Le Faux, Helen Bell, Jayne Coyle, Jim O'Neill, Jim Wainwright, Lindsay Aitkenhead, Mark Emerson, Miranda Rutter, Nancy Kerr, Pete Cooper and Susan Heeley. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown was the viola's most prominent exponent in the genre of blues. March 2005, at the Junction, Cambridge Eliza Carthy (born August 23, 1975) is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. ... 10,000 Maniacs is a US rock band, formed in 1981 and active with various line-ups since that time. ... Helen Bell is an English folk musician playing mainly viola and fiddle. ... James Leo (Jim) ONeill (February 23, 1893 - September 5, 1976) was a backup shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators. ... Pete or Peter Cooper is the name of: Peter Cooper, 19th century American industrialist, inventor and philanthropist Pete Cooper (golfer), American PGA and Senior PGA Tour golfer Pete Cooper (musician), English folk musician Category: ... Clarence Gatemouth Brown (born April 18, 1924) is generally categorized as a blues artist and guitarist, although he describes his own music as American music, Texas style. ... Blues music redirects here. ...

The viola is also an important accompaniment instrument in Hungarian and Romanian folk string band music, especially in Transylvania. Here the instrument has three strings tuned g - d' - a (note that the a is an octave lower than found on the standard instrument), and the bridge is flattened with the instrument playing chords in a strongly rhythmic manner. In this usage, it is called a kontra or brácsa (pronounced "bra-cha"). This article is about the region in Romania. ...

Violists

There are only a few well known viola virtuosi, perhaps because the bulk of virtuoso viola music was written in the twentieth century. In this category, the name of William Primrose readily comes to mind, as he brought the virtuoso aspect of viola playing to exceptional standards. Violist is a term sometimes used for a musician who plays the viola. ... William Primrose (August 23, 1903 - May 1, 1982) was a Scottish violist and teacher, probably the best known viola player of his time. ...

In addition to Primrose, the most important viola pioneers from the twentieth century are Lionel Tertis, Paul Hindemith, Lillian Fuchs, Walter Trampler and Emmanuel Vardi - up to now, the only violist to have ever recorded the 24 Caprices by Paganini on viola. Contemporary well-known violists include Lawrence Power, Michael Kugel, Kim Kashkashian, Nobuko Imai, Rivka Golani, Tabea Zimmermann, Paul Neubauer and Yuri Bashmet. From the younger generation, Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Cathy Basrak, Jennifer Stumm, Viacheslav Dinerchtein, and Antoine Tamestit deserve a prominent mention. Lionel Tertis (29 December 1876 â€“ 22 February 1975) was an English violist and one of the first viola players to find international fame. ... Paul Hindemith aged 28. ... Lillian Fuchs (1903-1991) was an American violist who taught, composed, and performed music for the viola. ... Walter Trampler (1915-1997) was a virtuoso performer and teacher of the viola and viola damore. ... Niccolò Paganini Niccolò Paganini, (Genoa, October 27, 1782 - Nice, May 27, 1840) was a violinist and composer. ... Michael Kugel (born 1946) is a Russian viola player. ... Kim Kashkashian (August 31, 1952 Detroit, Michigan - ) is an American violist. ... Nobuko Imai , born March 18, 1943), is a Japanese classical violist with an extensive career as soloist and chamber musician. ... Rivka Golani, Canadian violist Rivka Golani (b. ... Tabea Zimmermann, born on October 8, 1966 in Lahr, (Germany), is a German violist. ... Violist Paul Neubauer was the youngest principal player for the New York Philharmonic and currently teaches at the Juilliard School and performs with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. ... Cathy Basrak is one of the most prominent young violists. ... This article or section needs to be wikified. ... Viacheslav Dinerchtein is among the prominent violists of the new generation, and an active promoter of little-known viola repertoire. ... Antoine Tamestit is a French violist who is rapidly becoming one of the top violists of the younger generation. ...

Among the great composers, several preferred the viola to the violin when playing in ensembles^{[citation needed]}, the most noted being Ludwig van Beethoven, J.S. Bach^[6] and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Numerous other composers also chose to play the viola in ensembles, including Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Antonín Dvořák, and Benjamin Britten. Among those noted both as violists and as composers are Rebecca Clarke and Paul Hindemith. Many noted violinists have publicly performed and recorded on the viola as well, among them Pinchas Zukermann, David Oistrakh, Eugene Ysaye, Yehudi Menuhin, Maxim Vengerov, and Nigel Kennedy. â€œBeethovenâ€ redirects here. ... For other people named Bach and other meanings of the word, see Bach (disambiguation). ... â€œMozartâ€ redirects here. ... Haydn redirects here. ... Schubert redirects here. ... Portrait of Mendelssohn by the English miniaturist James Warren Childe (1778-1862), 1839 Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and generally known as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 â€“ November 4, 1847) is a German composer, pianist and conductor of the early Romantic period. ... AntonÃn DvoÅ™Ã¡k AntonÃn Leopold DvoÅ™Ã¡k ( , (often pronounced in English as ) ; September 8, 1841 â€“ May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer of Romantic music, who employed the idioms and melodies of the folk music of his native Bohemia and Moravia. ... Britten redirects here. ... Rebecca Helferich Clarke (Friskin) (August 27, 1886 â€“ October 13, 1979) was an English classical composer and violist best known for her chamber music featuring the viola. ... Paul Hindemith aged 28. ... Pinchas Zukerman (â€Ž, born July 16, 1948) is a noted Israeli violinist, violist, and conductor who was appointed Music Director of Ottawas National Arts Centre Orchestra in April 1998. ... David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (Ukrainian: Ð”Ð°Ð²Ð¸Ð´ Ð¤eÐ´Ð¾Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐžÐ¹ÑÑ‚Ñ€Ð°Ñ…), David FiodoroviÄ Ojstrah; September 30 [O.S. September 17] 1908 â€“ October 24, 1974) was a Soviet violinist who made many recordings and was the dedicatee of numerous violin works. ... Eugène Ysaÿe (July 16, 1858 – May 12, 1931) was a Belgian violinist and composer. ... Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (April 22, 1916 â€“ March 12, 1999) was an American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. ... Maxim Vengerov (born August 20, 1974 in the Siberian Federal District capital, Novosibirsk) is a Russian violinist. ... Nigel Kennedy (born December 28, 1956 in Brighton, England) is a violinist and violist. ...

The term violist is not universally used in English; some players, generally British, prefer viola player, since the word "'violist" is used in the UK to mean "player of the viol". Violist is a term sometimes used for a musician who plays the viola. ... Various sizes of viol, from Michael Praetorius Syntagma musicum (1618) Early Italian tenor viola da gamba, detail from the painting , by Raphael Sanzio, c. ...

The viola in popular music

The viola sees limited use in popular music. It was sometimes part of popular dance orchestras in the period from about 1890 to 1930, and orchestrations of pop tunes from that era often had viola parts available. The viola largely disappeared from pop music at the start of the big band era. With the Charlie Daniels Band, Charlie Daniels has played viola instead of violin for some of the fiddling "Redneck Fiddlin' Man." A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. ...

John Cale, a classically trained violist, played the instrument to great effect (amplified and often distorted) on some Velvet Underground tracks, most notably on "Venus in Furs", "Heroin", "The Black Angel's Death Song", "Stephanie Says", and "Hey Mr. Rain". He also played viola on "We Will Fall" a track on the debut Stooges album which he also produced. Not to be confused with J. J. Cale. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Venus in Furs is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally released on the album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967). ... Heroin is a song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. ... The Black Angels Death Song is a song by The Velvet Underground, from their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967). ... VU is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. ... This article is about the 1986 compilation album by The Velvet Underground. ... The Stooges is the self-titled debut of the rock band The Stooges. ...

Producer and songwriter Don Kayvan is classically trained violist and regularly uses the viola on rap, r&b, alternative and pop songs.

Singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf is a trained violinist and viola player, and regularly uses viola in his songs and onstage. Patrick Wolf (born Patrick Apps on June 30, 1983 at St Thomas Hospital, London[1]) is an English singer-songwriter from South London. ...

Kansas' "Dust in the Wind", as well as other tracks by the band, features a viola melody. Robby Steinhardt played violin, viola, and cello on the song, and he or David Ragsdale play at least one of these on most Kansas songs during their membership. For other uses, see Kansas (disambiguation). ... Dust in the Wind is a hit single released by the American progressive rock band Kansas in 1977. ... Robby Steinhardt is a rock violinist, violist, cellist, and singer best known for his work with the group Kansas, for which he was co-lead singer and emcee from 1973-1982 and 1997-2005. ... David Ragsdale, violinist for Kansas, started violin at the age of three. ...

Dave Swarbrick of the English Folk-Rock group Fairport Convention has been known to contribute viola among other stringed instruments to the band, most notably on the Liege & Lief album on the track "Medley..." where he plays violin with an overdubbed viola playing the same part an octave lower. Dave Swarbrick with Martin carthy and Diz Disley (1967). ... Fairport Convention are often credited with being the first English electric folk band. ... In between recording and releasing Unhalfbricking, tragedy struck. ...

The viola has made a slight comeback in modern pop music; aided and abetted by string groups, bond and Wild. The band Flobots makes extensive use of the viola on nearly all of their songs as bandmember Mackenzie Roberts is a violist. In her latest album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, Alison Krauss uses the viola in many of her songs. Vienna Teng, a folk/indie artist, used the viola as a solo instrument in two of her songs from her recent album Dreaming Through the Noise (2006). bond is an Australian/British string quartet that specialize in classical crossover music. ... Flobots are an alternative rock/rap group from Denver, Colorado, formed in or around 2000. ... Lonely Runs Both Ways is the 12th studio album from Bluegrass group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released November 23, 2004. ... Alison Krauss (born July 23, 1971)[1] is an American bluegrass-country singer and fiddle player. ... Album cover for Waking Hour Vienna Teng (born on October 3, 1978) is an Taiwanese-American pianist and singer-songwriter based in San Francisco. ... Dreaming Through the Noise is singer-songwriter Vienna Tengs third album. ...

Norwegian noise rock band Noxagt had a viola player until very recently; this musician left the band and was replaced by a baritone guitarist. New indie pop band The Funetics, use two violas and guitar for its instrumentation. The Six Parts Seven also used a viola. Neo-new wave indie rock band The Rentals features classically trained violist Lauren Chipman. Noxagt are a Norwegian noise band. ... Clifton Hyde with Mustapick Acoustic Baritone Guitar; Brooklyn, NY 2007 The baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. ... For a similarly named band, see Six by Seven. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Electric violas

Amplification and equalization can make up for the weaker output of a violin string tuned to notes below G3, so most electric instruments with lower strings are violin-sized, and as such, are called "violins." Comparatively fewer electric violas do exist, for those who prefer the physical size or familiar touch references of a viola-sized instrument. John Cale, formerly of The Velvet Underground, is one of the more famous users of such an electric viola, who has used them both for melodies in his solo work and for drones in his work with The Velvet Underground (e.g. "Venus in Furs"). Not to be confused with J. J. Cale. ... This article is about the rock band. ... In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout much or all of a piece, sustained or repeated, and most often establishing a tonality upon which the rest of the piece is built. ... Venus in Furs is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally released on the album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967). ...

Instruments may be built with an internal preamplifier, or may put out the unbuffered transducer signal. While such raw signals may be fed directly to an amplifier or mixing board, they often benefit from an external preamp/equalizer on the end of a short cable, before being fed to the sound system An example of a typical high-end stereo preamplifier. ... A buffer amplifier (sometimes simply called a buffer) is one that provides impedance transformation from high to low between one circuit and another. ... This article is about transducers in engineering. ... In the fields of communications, signal processing, and in electrical engineering more generally, a signal is any time-varying quantity. ... An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed for use with an electric or electronic musical instrument, such as an electric guitar. ... BBC Local Radio Mark III radio mixing desk In professional audio, a mixing console, mixing desk (Brit. ... For information about Canadas fiscal transfer system, see Equalization payments. ... School public address system A public address or PA system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a given sound (e. ...

Audio examples

Bibliography

Encyclopedia > Viola

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