The amazing viola
Thoughts after a Minnesota Orchestra concert
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Now on to the story
Last night, I watched a live performance of Threadsuns for viola and orchestra by Donghoon Shin with Rebecca Albers, viola, and the Minnesota Orchestra. The performance began with a tribute to the Minnesotans killed by Trump’s thugs. The work is glorious and moving. I watched it again this morning. I believe this work, though difficult, will enter the modern repertoire.
Rebecca Albers is not only a fine soloist, but is the principal viola of the Minnesota Orchestra. Maiya Papach is the principal viola of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Rebecca and Maiya lead the local viola community and are married to one another and have two young kids.
The viola section of an orchestra is interesting. To the public, it is perhaps the least known section of the orchestra, but its voice between the violins and cellos is essential to orchestral music, lending a warmth that would otherwise be missing.
I am a violinist, but can play the viola. The viola looks like a large violin, and requires some adjustment by the violinist to play in tune. It is the pitch and sound quality that causes trouble. The viola has a deep, rich, warm sound that is very satisfying to the player. Switching back, the violin sounds weak and cold by comparison.
There are some very successful musicians like Pinchas Zuckerman who switch back and forth between the two without apparent difficulty. But for me, if I played the viola regularly, I may not want to go back to the violin. However, the violin sound projects better, so the first and second violins dominate the orchestra and the classical repertoire. I will continue with my violin playing but will always be a bit envious of the viola players.
Musical instruments made from wood belong in a newsletter about trees. The artistry and skill it takes to shape part of a tree into a viola, bassoon, or marimba is one of the great achievements of humans. The sound coming out of these instruments reflects the artistry of the instrument make, the composer, and the musician, perhaps in equal proportion. We will feature more stories about music and its instruments in coming months.
And let's not forget that the wood itself also has a huge impact on the sound of the music - with the tree species, grain and age all affecting it!
I also play the violin (or fiddle, depending on the type of music I'm playing at the time😄), but have never tried playing a viola. I loved the photo of the violin and viola together, I never realized just how much bigger the viola is.
I play fiddle, but I have very small hands, so the viola is a bit much of a stretch. I did try playing one many moons ago in high school. lovely rich sound. I remember reading somewhere that the proportions of the viola are not necessarily the same as a violin either.