Does Size REALLY Matter? 20:30 on Saturday, January 07, 2006
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(The Violist)
It`s sick, I know.
Besides volume, how do you think size affects a viola`s tone quality, if at all? Because to ME it always seems like the bigger the viola, the better the sound. Any thoughts?
Re: Does Size REALLY Matter? 23:38 on Saturday, January 07, 2006
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(Scotch)
As I mentioned in the "shifting" thread, if that viola were acoustically its proper size for its range it would be too large to play like a violin but still too small to play like a cello. Viola makers are still grappling with the solution to this problem, but the way things stand so far and as a general rule, the larger the viola the more it will properly resonate.
Re: Does Size REALLY Matter? 16:03 on Monday, January 09, 2006
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(The Violist)
"Erratum" - that`s a classic.
Anyways, yes I know what Scotch is talking about. Like the bass, the viola was originally much larger than it is today. - So big, in fact, that many "normal"-sized people couldn`t play it. (For the record, there was once a string bass somewhere around 22 feet tall - that`s pretty big!)
In the early 1900`s (Scotch will correct me if I`m wrong here which I might be) they manged to shrink the viola down to a "playable" size.
Yet for some reason the violin still enjoys its blissful popularity...
I PREDICT THAT THERE MAY COME A DAY WHEN THE VIOLIN`S OLDER BROTHER WILL DOMINATE, AND THE FOUR-STRING`ED VIOLINSE WILL BE CAST IN SHADOWE! (As ambigious as Nostradamus, but unlike Nostradamus, this actually has some MEANING to it.)
16th century violas 10:28 on Tuesday, January 10, 2006
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(Spock)
In the 16th century there were alto (small) violas and tenor (large) violas. The alto violas ranged in sizes from 15"-16" and the tenor from 17"-20" in size. By the 18th century most violas were small in size (14.5"-15.5"). Hector Berlioz referred to them as "bastard instruments." The tenor viola fell into favor again, but this time they were cut down in size to try to make them more playable, while still trying to retain their resonant sound.
My height is 175 cm, my arms are of average length as well, whilst my hands are larger than average. From reading this and similar threads, my impression is that 16 to 16.5 inches would be an appropriate sized viola, 17 inches might be physically too large. Is this correct? Consensus appears to be that, acoustically, bigger is better as long as one can handle the instrument.
I own and frequently play a 17.5 inch viola that is perfectly comfortable to play (for not-too-extended time periods, anyway). It depends entirely upon one's personal physiology. There are wonderful instruments of smaller stature that sound absolutely gorgeous. Of course, a properly proportioned viola of ideal acoustic size would be ideal, and thanks to David Rivinus, we can all play one. I just bought his Pellegrina viola, and I have never been more enthralled with the sound of the viola in my life. It has a 20 inch sounding length, yet plays like a 15.5 inch...they're amazing. http://www.rivinus-instruments.com/Pellegrina.htm
(Speaking of beautiful sounding smaller violas, I am selling one of my backups, a GORGEOUS 16 inch Otto Benjamin. See post for details!)
I met Michael Tree (from the Guarneri Quartet) sometime ago and showed 2 of my violas (42 cm), that he liked a lot (He gave me an autograph "congratulations on your very fine instruments". He suggested me to make a 43 cm. viola... I accepted the idea and made the first one, based on Andrea Guarneri model (Conte Vitale) that I enlarged, but keeping the same string length (I had to change somethings in the model to get that).
Well, I'm quite satisfied with it, the difference in sound in great (volume, dynamic range, tone). Even the A string is darker. I'll make more 3 or 4 of this size. Some players of the viola naipe of our local orchestra here are mesmerized with it.
The problem with viola making is that it sounds one octave above the cello, but it's soundbox is much smaller than a cello soundbox, creating many many problems for the maker.
Does anyone know of any contemporary makers of 18+ instruments? I have long considered taking up the viola but I would like one of these larger beasts but the largest - on average - that I have seen is 17 to 17.5. I have heard of some 18 inch and even 19 inch models (fairly rare) but these are older and quite pricey. Can anyone recommend an affordable builder of the last 50 years or so?
Makers in the golden age of Italian violin making made two types of violas:
1 - Tenore: 17 or more, like the viola Medicea by Stradivari in Florence, or the fantastic viola tenore by Andrea Guarneri in the Shrine to Music Museum that you can see here:
They were played mostly in the first positions. Most of the tenor violas were reduced in size (sometimes they were reduced too much...).
2 - Contralto: less than that, it seem it was introduced by Andrea Guarneri.
In that time music was composed with two viola parts, one for tenore, the other contralto. That's why Stradivari's Spanish Quintet has two violas, one contralto and one tenore. The same with the Medicean instruments. But the two part viola was abandoned and composers kept just the contralto part.
17 inches is already a big viola (and they are a bit rare) you can see 2 of mine here:
If you want a good 17.5 inches or more, you will have to comission one, I think. If I would make one, I would keep a "standart" string length of 375 milimeters.
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Holla from NY!