The viola is a string instrument that is bowed or plucked. It is slightly larger than a violin and has a deeper and lower sound. Music for the viola is normally written in the alto clef, which means that the third line of the stave is middle C.
The viola normally plays accompaniment parts in an orchestra, but some pieces allow the viola to take centre stage, such as Bartók’s Viola Concerto and Shostakovich’s Viola Sonata!
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