“What’s the difference?” For every viola player out there, that question when being asked about the difference between a violin and a viola is really nothing out of the ordinary. We have heard it enough times throughout our musical careers from friends and family members alike. Generally speaking, when people think of instruments in orchestra, the first to come to mind are usually violins and cellos, with violas typically being just an afterthought. Violas are often forgotten about and seen as unimportant when they truly deserve better; to say that violas do not contribute much musically is simply false.
First off, what even is the difference between a violin and a viola? The differences, along with some similarities, are important to understand. The primary difference between the two is that a viola is bigger than a violin, although still smaller than a cello. One could say that violas have the best of both worlds!
Furthermore, violas read alto clef whereas violins read treble clef. The strings on a viola viola reach lower notes while a violin reaches higher notes. However, the necessary musical skills such as technique, tone and intonation are about the same in both instruments. Most importantly, both instruments certainly have the ability to inspire musicians both young and old to share their love of music with others.
“I play viola because I love the rich and mellow sound,” an anonymous QO junior said. “Although I love all instruments, I find that viola is closest to the human voice.” Some people assume that the viola is just an easier instrument to learn, but that is not the case. The physical exertion it takes is higher than almost any instrument. It is also a common stereotype in orchestras that violas are seen as unimportant. “I would say that violas are the bread that holds the sandwich together. Without them, something from the ensemble would seem missing.”
While those who go to listen to an orchestra perform will probably notice the melody being played from the violins first, violas contribute in much subtler but equally important ways to the overall sound being produced by the group. In any orchestra ensemble, balance is extremely important, and violas provide crucial melodic stability between the violins and the cellos. Violas are imperative in order to have all the right pieces fit together. So while the merits of the viola may not immediately stand out to non-musicians, they certainly deserve their due respect at the end of the day. After all, even Bach loved the viola!
Article by Matthew Minton of Quince Orchard High School
Graphic by Sophie Zheng of Cabin John Middle School