Strings

Suggested

Ranges

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Suggested

Ranges

String Section Members (cont.)

The Violas

The violas are slightly smaller in size than the cellos and are often misunderstood, in that they sound somewhere between the cellos and violins. Depending on whether they are playing in their lower register or higher register, it is sometimes difficult to tell whether it is the cellos playing, the violins playing or the violas themselves. While not having as distinctive a sound as the other stringed instruments, they never the less fill an important niche. In a rich string harmony, they are the glue between the lower bass and cello sounds, and the higher violin sounds. Like the cellos, they also perform interior harmony notes, counter lines and main melodies. Their can be as many as twelve violas in this section. A more complete analysis of the usage of the viola can be found in the Viola chapter.

The Violins

The most familiar sounding strings in the string section are the violins. The violins section itself is divided into two sections; the 1st violins and the 2nd violins. There are usually sixteen violins in the 1st violins section, and fourteen violins in the 2nd violins section. The 1st violins usually play the highest parts, and 2nd violins play lower parts, as well as internal moving lines below the 1st violins.

Because the violins play in a higher register than the other stringed instruments, they tend to play the melody most often. This access to the higher registers also allow the violins to create atmospheric effects. In addition to this, they can provide ornamental accompaniments and lustrous harmonies. We will discuss more of the violin's many functions in the violin chapter. A more complete analysis of the usage of the violin can be found in the Violin chapter.