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?

The larger the viola, the sound will be deeper and louder.

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: "that viola".

I meant "the viola".

Short answer, yes, but you have to weigh that against the fact that you have to be able to play it without doing yourself an injury!

Lzi

Natch.

"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.)

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.

Most Violist use a 15-16 1/2 size Viola, I personally use a 17 in. It has a beautiful sound quality and lovely legato and staccato sounds.

Good morning,

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.

Greetings,

lux

to me, size does matter cuz i have been playing a 16 inch for 6 years..and a 15 inch does not beat it! The sound is deeper and louder.. Holla from NY!

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?

Thanks for all the historical info, as Scotch mentioned a perfect viola is a contradiction. In fact, an acoustically "proper" viola would be about 24". I think the Italians of old knew this inherently but the amount of players who can wield a 19" plus instrument would be in the great minority, hence the dumping of the Tenores. There are some modern players who have used 19" instruments, one that comes to mind was the conductor of the Alaskan Symphony Orchestra in the 60's and 70's. I can't recall his name but he owns one and I remember someone saying he is about 6'7" or thereabouts. Plus, a large viola like that can really project and sing.

Yes size does matter :-P

I actually asked this question to a Luthier I know in Cleveland and he gave me the best answer ever.

"Basically if you make the size of a viola smaller to the point that it is as big as a full size violin it would simply be better to take the E-String off of the violin and substitute in the C string".

Gives you a rough idea. I personally play a 16inch viola.