Viola

Suggested

Range

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Suggested

Ranges

Harmony

The violas play an important orchestral role by providing harmony. As part of the string section, they are often called upon to fill in the interior notes of a rich string harmony. To hear an extended example of the harmony provided by the violas, refer to the Pastoral topic in the Composition Moods section.

Final Thoughts

The importance of the violas within the orchestra's string section often is not emphasized. They don't produce as deep and rich a sound as the cellos, nor as sweet a sound as the high violins. But they provide the glue that bonds these other string colors. The viola's mid register is as pure as any of the stringed instruments and just as desirable. Understanding the valuable role of the violas will greatly benefit your orchestral writing.