![]() However, its dimensions (with a body around 48 cm long) could sometimes be too much to bear. The viola has gone through many modifications throughout the centuries. The Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival & Competition was established to honor the former while the Primrose International Viola Archive was set up to commemorate the latter. Two names that boosted the viola to further recognition in the modern times are Lionel Tertis and William Primrose. It was not uncommon to find viola concertos then. ![]() The viola gained more fame and appreciation for its deeper timbre and more parts were dedicated to this instrument in compositions of this period. Felix Mendelssohn, composer of Viola Sonata in C Minor.Robert Schumann, composer of Fairy Tale Pictures.Paganini, composer of Sonata per la Grand’ Viola.Hector Berlioz, composer of Harold in Italy (with solo viola).Carl Maria von Weber, composer of viola for the orchestra and a viola solo in his opera, Freischutz.Joseph Schubert, composer of a viola concerto.Mozart wrote an entire Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola This inspired more musicians to elevate the importance of the viola in their compositions as well. Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, classical composers who treated viola music as more than just a filler in symphonies.Karl and Anton Stamitz (Johann’s sons), performers and composers of viola concertos and sonatas.Johann Stamitz, writer of a viola concerto.Bach, composer of Brandenburg Concertos.Georg Philip Telemann, composer of Telemann Viola concerto.Other influences of the viola in this period: He did this when he couldn’t find any viola solo publications available and thought it was a pity that this excellent instrument had been largely ignored. ![]() The first known viola sonatas published in England in 1770 were written by William Flackton, a bookseller, publisher, organist and violist. From the mid-18 th Century onwards, the violoncello covered the lower middle (tenor) register. ![]() In the orchestra established by King Louis XIII (France) in 1626, the 24 Violons du Roy, the violas made up of half of the 24 instruments.Īt around 1750, the string ensemble changed from being a five-part ensemble to a four-part.Ulysses’ homecoming by Claudio Monteverdi, an opera composer, wrote orchestra parts for the viola, 1641.Sonata for viola by Carlo Antonio Marino, late 17 th Century.Symphonia Quarta for violin and viola by Nikolaus Kempis, 1644.Viola sonata by Massimiliano Neri, 1651.Other mentions of the viola in this period: Famous Concerto Grossi composers included Vivaldi and Corelli. It was a form of Baroque concerto that consisted of a small group of solo instruments (called “concertino”) and a string orchestra (called “ripieno”). In the later period of the 17 th Century came another form of composition – the Concerto Grosso. In this piece, different parts were played by several instruments and interestingly, one part was specifically assigned to the viola.ĭuring this time, the viola was mainly used in the orchestra and the opera. In 1597, a Venetian composer, Giovanni Gabrieli, wrote Sonata pian’e forte. His instruments were bought by the Medici Family and played by Paganini. By his time, the demand for violas had decreased and he mostly made small violas, one of which was owned and played by the legendary Scottish violist, William Primrose.Īnother world famous Nicolò Amati apprentice is Antonio Stradivari. His viola creations were held in higher regards than his violins.Īndrea Guarneri, one of Nicolò Amati’s apprentices, also came from a family of luthiers. Andrea Amati’s legacy was continued by his sons, Antonio and Girolamo, grandson Nicolò and great-grandson Girolamo II.Īnother great luthier was Gasparo da Salò from the Brescia region. Most of the pieces were destroyed during the French Revolution, but fortunately, few survived, one of them being the viola. He was a favorite of the King of France, King Charles IX, and was commissioned to produce 38 instruments (including cellos, violins, and violas) for the royal musicians in 1565. For example: Violino (small viola) Violone (big viola/bass viola) Violoncello (smaller bass viola).Īndrea Amati, the famous Italian luthier from the Cremona region, was one of the earliest creators of the modern violin family. The viola da gamba was played at the legs, had high ribs, five to seven strings across a flatter bridge and a flat back.Įssentially, the term ‘viola’ was used for all such instruments in Italy. The viola da braccio was played on the arms, had low ribs, four strings across a curved bridge and a round back. Such instruments were grouped under two families: viola da braccio and viola da gamba. Before the start of the 16 th Century, the term ‘viola’ was already used to describe string instruments that bore similar characteristics of the violin family.
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