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Viola
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 HistoryAfter the bow was applied to the lute in the 10th century, not many more changes were made until the 1300's. Characteristics began to appear in the viole. The viole was a guitar-fiddle which was both bowed and plucked. It was modified by cutting in the sides. The medieval fiddle called a rebec and the lira do braccio each had been made with four strings around 1550. They also developed lateral pegs, a waisted body, and f shaped sound holes. These improvements are still similar in structure today. People began making bowed instruments corresponding to voices at this time. The ancestors of the violin family were called the viol family, consisting of four members in the 15th century. These instruments had six strings. The tenor viol, also called the violino, was too large and difficult to play because it was hard to hold comfortably. This violino was then made into different sizes, such as the tenor and the alto. These two were combined into one smaller instrument by instrument makers in Northern Italy. The viola was the 'alto-tenor' violin in the new violin family, but did not receive that name 'viola' until later. The reason for this was that the term 'viola' referred to any stringed instrument, plucked or bowed. The same alterations that were made to the violin were applied to the viola. Top
DescriptionThe viola is 16 to 18 inches in length. It contains four strings which are thicker than the violin and are tuned c, g, d 1, and a 1 (c = C below middle C; a 1 = A above middle C). A heavier bow is also used. The viola is a 5th lower than a violin, requiring a larger, longer body. Composers in the 17th century began using the mellow tones produced by the viola to
add color to their pieces. Today the viola is most often used in an orchestra for harmony.
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Sound ProductionSound is produced when the player creates a vibration when the string is rubbed by a bow, plucked, or struck. This vibrates the wooden instrument, causing the air inside to vibrate also and act as a resonator. The notes are created by the player changing the length of the string that is vibrating. This is accomplished by the player pressing a single string or multiple strings against the bridge in different places.
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