Asymmetrical Viola 1974

While still in violin making school I decided to try playing viola, because I never did like the sound of a violin E-string right under my ear. (I always blamed the string.)  The big problem with that idea was my size – 5’2” with short arms. 

We decided to make an asymmetrical viola with the “playing length” short and long in the other direction to make up for the loss of volume.  Peter had seen such an instrument made by Erich von Holst, Professor at the Max Planck Institute. Our viola actually sounded very good, and created quite a stir when we got it done, but was still too big for me.

This experiment showed us that a symmetrical instrument body with “golden proportions” was not necessary for a good sound.  However, our experience working for Hans Weisshaar on old instruments soon showed us that making wildly asymmetrical violas was also not necessary for good sound.  There are great sounding small violas, but it is a challenge.

Next, as we were studying for our final exams and reading David Boyden’s History of Violin Playing from its Origins to 1761, I got another idea from one of the pictures in the back of the book. 
(see Innovations: viola da braccio)

 6 September 2008
by Wendy Moes