Hi,

I was just browsing on the net about viola's (for some reason) and basically for some reason i found web pages by some people who played violin who were basically criticising the viola quite a lot and i was wondering why is there a negative view by some violinists towards viola's?

I don't think violinists don't like them, but they do tend to take the mick out of them sometimes, it's just light hearted - viola jokes seem to be quite common. I'm not sure why, but it seems a common myth that viola players are failed violinists - to be fair, this does hold true at our school - most of the violas in the orchestra tend to be people who weren't very good at the violin, but many people choose viola as their first instrument and are wonderful players.

My 2 cents is that this is stupid though - I play the violin and the viola, and I think that the viola is a terrific instrument in it's own right - it can produce a wonderfully rich sound

Dave

A lot of people do switch from the violin to the viola, and I did that because I just didn't like the violin, I found it didn't click with me, where as the viola, I only ever really put it down to come online. And I'm found the viola more technically demanding as I have to move my bow slower to get a nicer sound as it doesn't 'speak' so easily.

Jealously thats all it is,

I think violinists who take the mick out of the viola are just jealous of it!
Including myself lol

I think Dave has a point about orchestras having failed violinists as violists - both string ensembles I am in do that. Some people criticise viola as incapable of sweet, high notes like the violin nor mellow tones like the cello. Most middle range instruments are unappreciated anyway, like the euphonium.

As isabel and cecilia say its just jealously that violins cant produce such rich mellow tones and have 2 b content with getting high notes!
jess

Apparently all the jokes that are now directed at viola players, used to once be directed at double bass players. I guess things go full circle and violinists could be the next ones to bear the brunt.

As well as being the best violinist in the world (or at least I think so), Maxim Vengerov is now making a name for himself as a violist as well.

I highly recommend his recordings of the Britten Violin Concerto and the Walton Viola Concerto - both on the same CD

I hate violin high notes anyway- all squeaky, I'd much rather have a C string!!!

I think it also has got to do with the repertoire. We hear lots of wonderful violin concerti and lots of violin melody in symphonic music, but not much of viola concerti. The great violinists have also prove their instrument to be very versatile indeed. The viola is less heard solo and thus is stereotyped to be a doomed accompanist. (just like euphonium)

matt4504,

if i had the chance to learn a string instrument, i would choose the viola instead of the violin

I think violas are soo much cooler

QUOTE (missfabflute @ Aug 14 2004, 09:32 AM)

matt4504, if i had the chance to learn a string instrument, i would choose the viola instead of the violin I think violas are soo much cooler

YOU have got brains!

[Most middle range instruments are unappreciated anyway, like the euphonium. ]

to put my twopenneth in it isn't the euphonium that is the poor accompianist....well not in Brass Bands ,it is the Baritone!

see? another underappreciated instrument..
I'm going to compose a piece for the viola soon!! Show them that the viola's got lots of power!

I started to play viola because I preferred its sound to the violin. I've heard loads of viola jokes, especially from cellists for some reason
Sometimes when me and a friend go and play our violas in concerts for a junior orchestra that doesnt have any viola players, the conductor sometimes forgets that we are there! She still appreciates us being there, its just that viola players are so rare.

[/QUOTE]the conductor sometimes forgets that we are there! [QUOTE]
Thats like me! I'm the only violist in my skool orchestra and my conductor sometimes forgets i'm there, thinks im a violin, then asks why im not playing! i have 2 remind him im a violist lol!
jess

At least your school orchestra lets you in! Mine won't, I have the choice of playing the violin, or not being in it at all! So I'm not in it!

Thats disgusting! an orchestra is not an orchestra without violas!

QUOTE

At least your school orchestra lets you in! Mine won't, I have the choice of playing the violin, or not being in it at all! So I'm not in it!

WHAT?????? WHAT IS THE POINT IN NOT LETTING YOU IN BECAUSE YOU PLAY THE VIOLA AND NOT VIOLIN???

Sorry. I just can't believe that! What is an orchestra without violas? Who plays the viola parts then?

QUOTE (isabelsmells @ Aug 14 2004, 05:02 PM)

QUOTE (missfabflute @ Aug 14 2004, 09:32 AM) matt4504, if i had the chance to learn a string instrument, i would choose the viola instead of the violin  :) I think violas are soo much cooler YOU have got brains!

I agree. We have a C string and violins don't *nananana* Hahaha.. I just like the sound of violas more. There are a lot of violist jokes out there O_o and the viola usually doesn't get much of a part in the orchestra ...

QUOTE (cecilia @ Aug 10 2004, 09:48 PM)

I hate violin high notes anyway- all squeaky, I'd much rather have a C string!!!

me too!!! i can't stand the E string on the violin- that's why I'm having so much trouble with grade 5 music cos most of it goes really high and squeaky! i wanna play the viola, dunno, it just sounds cool!

QUOTE

I have the choice of playing the violin, or not being in it at all!

That is so BAD The orchestra must sound terrible without viola players. Some instruments just arent appreciated...

QUOTE (Rainbow @ Aug 19 2004, 09:45 PM)

QUOTE I have the choice of playing the violin, or not being in it at all! That is so BAD The orchestra must sound terrible without viola players. Some instruments just arent appreciated...

I agree that's so sad =(

QUOTE (isabelsmells @ Aug 17 2004, 06:09 PM)

I have the choice of playing the violin, or not being in it at all! So I'm not in it!

My school orchestra won't let violins in, and we have no violists or cellists, so just think what this orchestra sounds like!

QUOTE

My school orchestra won't let violins in, and we have no violists or cellists

Really?
What instruments does it have? I bet it sounds terrible.

Were would the world be without viola players? All the greats like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach etc. they ALL favoured playing the viola in ensemble stuff.

I play the violin too, and its horrible, when I play on the E string I feel as though my ear drums are about to burst and if you hit it at a funny angle it squeaks! Now who wants that!

QUOTE

All the greats like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach etc. they ALL favoured playing the viola in ensemble stuff.

I think thats because they could hear all the instruments properly in stuff that they composed.
Violin E strings are so annoying. You dont realise how much u hate them until u dont have them!

QUOTE

Violin E strings are so annoying. You dont realise how much u hate them until u dont have them!

Ohhhhhhhhh yes I do... *sound of violin being smashed*

QUOTE (Rainbow @ Aug 20 2004, 10:44 AM)

QUOTE My school orchestra won't let violins in, and we have no violists or cellists Really? What instruments does it have? I bet it sounds terrible.

Yes it does sound terrible. we have a few trumpets, drums, clarinets, and flutes. not exactly an orchestra really.

our school orchestra is not really *real*

we dont have enough of the other instruemnts, so the conducter asks for keyboard players to play other instruments LMAO

QUOTE

QUOTE   Violin E strings are so annoying. You dont realise how much u hate them until u dont have them! Ohhhhhhhhh yes I do... *sound of violin being smashed*

Lol

QUOTE

our school orchestra is not really *real*

My school does not even have an orchestra!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Aug 20 2004, 09:59 PM)

QUOTE Violin E strings are so annoying. You dont realise how much u hate them until u dont have them! Ohhhhhhhhh yes I do... *sound of violin being smashed*

lol me too! If the violin didn't have an E string, I would be very very happy.