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Clarify 'violist' to me please.
In your profile it says that you are a 'violist'. Does that mean that you play the viola?
I work in a music store selling musical instruments. I for one, play the flute...so I know almost Zilch about strings...
Do most violists start off on the violin? What notes are viola strings tuned to? Is the viola a transposing instrument in that the notes that you play on paper are not actually what sounds?
There is one guy who plays the violin at work, yet he seems to be amused by any one who takes the viola seriously (when I try to ask a question...he veers off into a joke).
I love the sound of a viola by they way. Do you know of any prominent viola players?
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Maybe give some free advice about: Music?
Yes, I do indeed play the viola. It's the best instrument in the world as far as I'm concerned, but I'm probably biased on that point.
I actually did get my start on violin, as do a number of violists, but I also know a LOT of violists that did start on the viola. The only reason I started on violin was convenience- we had one my size lying around the house doing nothing, so I wanted to learn to play it. After about five years of playing it, I got sick of it. After another five years, my parents let me try viola, and after a year they let me drop the violin entirely.
The viola is tuned C, G, D, A. This is exactly one fifth lower than the violin. It's not a transposing instrument, though most wind/brass players I've talked to think it ought to be. But it's not. Essentially, think of adding an extra string on the low end of the violin and taking away that horrid E string. Then make the body two inches longer, the height of the instrument taller, and you've got a viola.
I'm also familiar with about any viola joke anyone can throw at me. I've probably read them all. People who don't take the viola seriously (like, ever) really annoy me. For one, linguistic roots suggest that the viola came first, so without the viola, there would BE no violin. Second of all, our repertoire might not be as big, but that doesn't mean that we can't find any of "our own" music. There are some real gems out there. I just got this one piece, Chahagir, by Alan Hovhaness, and it's so awesome. It's very middle-eastern sounding, and has lots of C-string chord action going on. There's also a high-quality double viola concerto by Bach, Brandenburg 6. And that particular piece is a concerto that contains *ahem* absolutely no violins. If you haven't heard it, I strongly recommend finding a recording of it.
As for prominent viola players, the only one I can think of off the top of my head that is currently prominent is Kim Kashkashian. Other famous violists include William Primrose and Lionel Tertis. For further information on the viola, I suggest checking out [Link](Mouse over link to see full location). It's an excellent resource for the viola and violists.
Should you have any further viola questions, I'd be happy to answer. :)
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