Hi!

I come from the flute forum. Could somebody please tell me whether the viola is a transposing instrument (the way the horn in F is)?

<Added>

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate your help.

I could solve the problem anyway.

No. In general the viola is not a transposing instrument. However, nothing stops a composer from requesting to retune the strings of the viola (or, for that matter, any other string instrument) and thus turn it into a transposing instrument for a specific composition. Mozart did that for the solo viola part in his Symphony Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra.

Thank you.

The voila is, however, the only modern instrument still using the alto clef, and many non-violists transpose in a sense to read viola parts (in orchestral scores, for example).

I mean the viola.

The voila is, however, the only modern instrument still using the alto clef, and many non-violists transpose in a sense to read viola parts (in orchestral scores, for example). ------------------------- I mean the viola.

This does not make the viola a transposing instrument. Neither is the violoncello a transposing instrument just because people not familiar with the tenor clef do the same while attempting to read cello parts in orchestral scores. Neither is the bassoon.

I disagree with the way you use the term "transpose" in the context of your comment. In my opinion the action you refer to is staff shifting. It is a legitimate way for music readers to overcome lack of familiarity with a clef they are not use to, but it has nothing to do with transposition. Every transposition, with the exception of octave transposition, involves a change of key, while staff shifting never does. A transposing instrument is one which the pitch it sounds is different from the respective notated pitch.

Now I have this very clear. Thank you both.

By the way, viola isn't the only instrument to use the alto clef. Trombone also does.