viola
viola (Fr. alto or taille; Ger. Bratsche).
1. Bowed 4-str. instr., sometimes known as alto or tenor because of its lower pitch compared with vn., to which it is closely related. Tuned to c, g, d′, a′. Va. section standard in all orchs.; one va. is standard component of str. qt. Also used as solo instr., several concs. and conc.-type works having been written for it. viola pomposa was rare 18th-cent. type with a higher 5th str. See also Tertis, Lionel.
2. Org. stop of 8′ length and pitch.
3. Generic It. term for str. instrs. in Renaissance and baroque periods, incl. viole da gamba (leg viols), i.e. members of the viol family; and viole da braccio (arm viols), the forerunners of the vn. family.
1. Bowed 4-str. instr., sometimes known as alto or tenor because of its lower pitch compared with vn., to which it is closely related. Tuned to c, g, d′, a′. Va. section standard in all orchs.; one va. is standard component of str. qt. Also used as solo instr., several concs. and conc.-type works having been written for it. viola pomposa was rare 18th-cent. type with a higher 5th str. See also Tertis, Lionel.
2. Org. stop of 8′ length and pitch.
3. Generic It. term for str. instrs. in Renaissance and baroque periods, incl. viole da gamba (leg viols), i.e. members of the viol family; and viole da braccio (arm viols), the forerunners of the vn. family.
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viola
