Where did the viola come from?

Answer 1

The viola is an descendant of the Vielle family of instruments which originated in Italy in the mid to late 1400's. (it is not known exactly when the Vielle family was invented or by whom.) These instruments were called Fiedel in Germany and were played "on the arm" leading to the name "Viola da Braccio" in Italy (to differentiate them from the family of "viola da gamba", which were played with the instrument resting on the legs). The closest relative to the viola is the Violin. (The Viola d'amore, which was used in the Baroque period, and was played in the same manner as the violin and viola, but had 6 or 7 strings which were fingered on a fingerboard with frets like the Viola Da Gamba, and had additional sympathetic strings under the fingerboard which vibrated 'in sympathy' with the bowed, fingered strings.) The Viola is the Alto of the Violin Family. It also fills the part of tenor, when another violin is filling the voice of alto (i.e., in String Quartets and symphony orchestras). Attempts at a Tenor viola produced an instrument so large that it could not be played under the chin, and was held similarly to the cello. The earliest iconographic evidence of a viola is in the 1534-5 frescoes in the dome of the Sanctuary of Soranno. The earliest known surviving viola was made in 1560 by Andrea Amati.

The viola has been treated as a solo instrument right along with the Violin. In the Baroque era, the solo potential of the instrument was realized by composers such as Telemann, Vivaldi and J. S. Bach, who wrote several concerti, sonatas and other solos for the instrument. Often, composers of the era claimed the viola as their favorite of the violin family.

Answer 2

The viola came from Italy and was made in Italy.

Answer 3

The viola came from Italy.

Answer 4

The viola comes from Italy.

Answer 5

The viola was created in Italy.

Answer 6

Italy