Viola
Today I want to take you behind the curtain of the orchestra’s vital inner-string world. You’ve heard the dazzling solos of violins and the thunderous roar of brass, but what of the voices that weave the rich fabric of ensemble sound? In this post, I draw on decades as a Los Angeles studio violinist to celebrate the often-overlooked viola. Together, we’ll explore how the subtle, supportive role that sustain every performance—from symphonies to film scores—and reveal why collaborative musicianship is the secret to every great musical moment.
Viola: The Orchestra’s Mellow Heart
I’ve always been drawn to the viola’s warm, alto voice. Though often stigmatized as the orchestra’s “stepchild,” the viola aches with a unique resonance that rivals any solo star. Dan Neufeld, a busy studio violist, once confessed that he stumbled onto the instrument, but a passion for it was immediate when he first drew the bow across its strings. At USC, Pam Goldsmith described her own lightning-strike wonder at the viola’s deeper timbre. These personal epiphanies underscore how the viola seduces players who embrace its mellow midrange and chamber-music humility. In my own experience, swapping my violin for a viola revealed a world of intricate inner voicings. Concert violinist Brian Dembow walked away from the spotlight to anchor the Angeles Quartet, explaining that the joy of blending and supporting textures outweighed solo acclaim. Ronald Kato once told me how a Ouija-board mishap persuaded him to trade his violin for a life in the inner voices. These anecdotes illuminate the camaraderie and creative devotion that violists share. Yet the instrument is far from easy. Players battle repetitive-stress injuries, grapple with nonstandardized sizes and negotiate the trade-offs between weight and sound projection. The solo repertoire remains limited—Mozart’s string quintets, Brahms’s Serenade and Hindemith’s viola concerto—but as Kato quips, “playing well is the best revenge.” In studio sessions, I’ve watched colleagues blend into the harmonic tapestry, filling gaps between cello and violin with a rounded warmth that no other instrument can match. The viola is humility in action and ensemble artistry at its finest.